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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many pence does Octavia pay the messenger at Strythe’s London house for information?

2. With which of the following does Chapter XII begin?

3. What is the name of Neuilly’s landlady?

4. With which of the following does Chapter V begin?

5. What is the name of the sexton at the church where Gideon spent his first night in London?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Carew answers the door for Cutter and Gideon at Strythe’s London house, to what does Cutter mockingly ascribe his slowness in doing so?

2. What reason is given for the attempt to prevent Octavia from confronting her editor at his club?

3. How does Neuilly restrain a butterfly when Gideon first encounters him?

4. What does Carew observe Strythe means to offer up for a charity auction?

5. What explanation does Gideon give for not being able to find his uncle’s dwellings?

6. For what reasons is Gideon anxious to meet with his uncle in his dwellings?

7. What explanation is given for calling Gideon’s uncle “Old Nelly” (31)?

8. What lunch does Octavia prepare for herself after her fruitless pursuit of information about Strythe and his travels?

9. When Octavia encounters Elf at Ashenden House, what account of his travels does he offer?

10. Angela celebrates her birthday as being 7 May. Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Similarly, major sectional divisions of a novel, when titled, often speak to the tone of the sections they title. Do the section-titles in the novel serve that function for The House on Vesper Sands? How or how not?

Essay Topic 2

Who is the second most important character of the novel? How does the novel support such an assertion?

Essay Topic 3

Who is the protagonist of the novel? How does the novel support such an assertion?

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This section contains 644 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample