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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section 1: "The Marry Month of May".

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the purpose of the allusion to the "virgin of Cologne" (334)?
(a) It characterizes Miss Coulson as cruel and selfish.
(b) It foreshadows later plot events.
(c) It implies that Miss Coulson is uninterested in romantic love.
(d) It reminds the reader that Miss Coulson is very religious.

2. Where Mr. Coulson is sitting, two main smells are "battling": the smell of flowers and what other smell?
(a) Mr. Coulson's strong cologne.
(b) The medicine on Mr. Coulson's skin.
(c) The musty smell of Mr. Coulson's room.
(d) Mr. Coulson's uneaten breakfast.

3. When Mr. Coulson continues quoting the poem and mentions "a livelier iris," what does Mrs. Widdup think he is talking about? (333)
(a) Flowers.
(b) Eyes.
(c) The Irish.
(d) A bird.

4. Who is Miss Van Meeker Constantia Coulson?
(a) Mr. Coulson's granddaughter.
(b) Mr. Coulson's daughter.
(c) Mr. Coulson's sister.
(d) Mr. Coulson's aunt.

5. What claim is the narrator making by calling humans "lineal scions of the pansy" (332)?
(a) Humans are the servants of nature.
(b) Pansies are more like humans than most people realize.
(c) Plants and animals are just as valuable as humans.
(d) Humans and flowers are related through evolution.

Short Answer Questions

1. When the author compares May to Circe and explains the comparison at length, what literary technique is he using?

2. With which motif is Miss Coulson most identified?

3. On the final morning of the story, what causes Mr. Coulson's mood to change?

4. Which bird is Mr. Coulson said to be "elder brother" to in May?

5. Why does Mr. Coulson hesitate as he says, "In the spring...a y -- that is a man's -- fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love" (333)?

(see the answer key)

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