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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 does Pierce lose in the water?

2. What does the author say all human life is compact of?

3. Who is the first letter that Ducane opens from?

4. What does the author say we think with?

5. Which two characters do Ducane and Kate think are good for each other?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Kate react to Jessica's letter?

2. What does Mary think about on the boat?

3. What does Richard promise Paula?

4. How does Mar react when she sees Mingo, Pierce and Ducane swimming out of the cave?

5. How does Ducane orgaize everyone when he hears Pierce has swum to the cave?

6. What do the three women write in their letters to Ducane?

7. Why does Ducane resign from his job?

8. Why does Ducane think the sender sent Kate Jessica's letter?

9. How does Ducane feel about Mary?

10. Why does Binally say he tampered with Radeechy's body?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Identify the main themes of the story. In what way are these themes relevant to the time period? How does the author use character and setting to express these themes?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the novel's chronological setting.

1) What were the main concerns during the 1960s? How does the author express these concerns?

2) How would the author have tot change the novel if it was set in today's society?

Essay Topic 3

What are the main turning points of the novel? How does Murdoch develop her story to get to each turning point? What happens to the story after each turning point?

(see the answer keys)

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