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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. When Mrs. Wilbraham dies, what is clasped in her hand?

2. What role does Bunter have while waiting out the flood in the church?

3. What are the emeralds wrapped in when they're discovered?

4. Who buys Mary Thoday a parrot?

5. What does Reverend Venables ask his parishioners to bring to the church in baskets during the flood?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Bunter get upset with Emily over the beer bottle found in the vestry?

2. Discuss the religious symbolism in the flood of Fenchurch St. Paul and the villagers' experience in the church during the flood.

3. Why does Will Thoday initially believe Deacon has returned to Fenchurch St. Paul and what is the actual reason Deacon has returned?

4. How does Lady Wilbraham respond when her stolen emeralds are found?

5. What account of Deacon's death does Cranton give when charged with Deacon's murder?

6. Why does Will Thoday take a large sum of money out of the bank and then redeposit it?

7. Who mutilates Deacon's body after his death and for what reason is the corpse mutilated?

8. What does the behavior of the villagers during the flood indicate about the closeness of the people and the church's role in their lives?

9. How does Lord Peter find the stolen emeralds?

10. Why do Will and Mary Thoday have to remarry each other?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Several people in The Nine Tailors turn out not to be who or what they initially seem. Discuss the novel's motif of hidden identities and public masques. Cite examples form the text to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Select at least three chapters from the novel. Discuss how the titles of the chapters relate to the plots, themes and characters in each chapter. Do any of the titles seem to have more than one possible meaning? Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

The bells in Reverend Venables' church are considered holy, and sinners are reported to fear them. Discuss the symbolism of the bells and the concept of sacredness in the novel. What do you think the author intends to convey through the use of the bells as sacred objects and how does the manner of Deacon's death fit this purpose? Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

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This section contains 1,115 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample