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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. Villanelle says that passion is somewhere between fear and what?

2. Finish this sentence: ¨St Paul said it is better to marry than to ______.¨

3. Why does Napoleon send Henri back to Boulogne?

4. Where does Patrick take Henri on New Year´s Eve?

5. How much does the cook weigh?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the Queen of Spades order when Villanelle first meets her? What is Villanelle´s reaction to the Queen of Spades?

2. What is Villanelle´s stepfather´s reaction to her birth defect? How does Villanelle account for her stepfather´s reaction?

3. Why doesn´t Patrick pray to the Virgin Mary? Why does he think this?

4. What does the Queen of Spades leave for Villanelle at the gaming table? What is the item made out of?

5. Why did Henri's mother want to run away when she was young? How does Henri say his father won her over?

6. How tall are Napoleon's servants? Why is this?

7. In Henri's story about the man who thought himself an inventor, why did the man go to town for a few months, leaving his family? Who seemed to hold the man together?

8. What does Bonaparte do to Henri to show his approval when he hears about Henri and the cook? What does he say about Henri's idea?

9. What does Henri do to the cook that impresses Bonaparte? Where did he get the idea?

10. What makes Henri uncomfortable at church? What does he consider his stigmata?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Rituals are an important part of life for the characters in the novel. Write an essay about rituals and legends in The Passion and their function in the novel's plot. Be specific; be sure to include at least two examples.

Essay Topic 2

The relationship between the two narrators is a central theme in The Passion. Write an essay about the relationship between Villanelle and Henri from both sides, as Winterson does. How is their love impossible?

Essay Topic 3

In The Passion, Villanelle tells a story about two men who bet their lives against each other. Write an essay on the theme of "The stakes of life" in the novel, using Villanelle's story as a background to your argument. Make sure you use at least 2 examples that mirror Villanelle's story.

(see the answer keys)

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