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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. Who is Josephine sitting with when Henri serves her melon?

2. What is the quote that opens 'The Passion' taken from?

3. How long has Henri been gone when he returns home on leave?

4. Who is the author of 'The Passion'?

5. On their second date, what does the Queen of Spades ask Villanelle to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to legend, what does a boatsmen´s wife do when she is pregnant? What is she supposed to wish for?

2. What does Henri say the smell of porridge reminds him of? How did he feel during that time?

3. What does Villanelle tell the old homeless woman who she rows past? What does the woman tell Villanelle to beware?

4. In Part 1, what does Henri say the Blind peddler tells him about the Dark? What happens to this peddler?

5. What is the name of the main character? When do we first hear it?

6. What does Patrick say the channels are full of? What danger lies in the channels?

7. Where does Villanelle work? How does she dress there? Why does she dress this way?

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

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

10. What does Henri serve Josephine when he first meets her? Why is Henri uncomfortable during this encounter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Disability is a common theme amongst the characters in The Passion. Write an essay about the theme of disability in the novel, using at least 3 characters in your argument.

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

Napoleon is a central figure in the novel. Write an essay on Napoleon´s character, and what he represents to both the characters in the novel and the novel as a whole. Be specific and be sure to use at least three examples in your argument.

(see the answer keys)

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