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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. What is the only opera Lady Partridge has ever seen?

2. Who buys the land next to the Guests?

3. When Nick and Toby spend the afternoon together, what does Toby bring out by the pool?

4. Who owns the manor?

5. What Latin phrase does the Eros scene on the ewer represent, according to Nick?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Gerald and Jasper do in the fumoir?

2. What is mistakenly believed about Market Hall in Barwick?

3. Who is Nat getting married to?

4. What is on Abbots' Field?

5. How does Nick think it is best to deal with Catherine when she is on an "up curve"?

6. According to Catherine, what is Gerald's view of his constituents?

7. How is Lionel able to get in the house without alerting the press?

8. Describe the game of welly-whanging.

9. What is Wobbly Thursday?

10. Why does Nick suggest that he has helped make the restaurant Gusto a success?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Nick's thesis is on the "style that hides things and reveals things at the same time". Explain how this relates to the larger context of the novel. How does the concept of "style" play a role in the major characters' lives?

Essay Topic 2

What is the role of the media in the text? Begin by looking at the discussion of the "Mordant Analyst" on the opening pages and continue to the effects of the tabloids on the characters at the end of the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Nick is surrounded by many people who love "things more than people". Using examples in the text, explain how the snobbishness of the wealthy puts a heavy value on possessions over relationships. How do the characters relate to their possessions? How does this compare to how they relate to each other?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 546 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample