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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 is the mission of the church where the lost prince goes after leaving the palace?

2. What does Father Andrew teach Tom?

3. What clothes does Tom wear for the ceremony in question #53?

4. What does Edward say to Mrs. Canty?

5. What does Henry declare about Tom?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the place where Tom is taken for dinner.

2. What does Hertford tell the king when Henry awakes? What does the king need to do about it? Why can't Henry do it?

3. What does Miles find when he returns to the room where he left the prince? What does a servant tell him?

4. What does the prince's presentation to the people look like?

5. What does Miles tell Edward of his problem with Miles' brother?

6. What does Canty tell Edward when Hugo leads him to Tom's father?

7. Whom is Tom told to see after Lady Jane leaves? What is the result of that meeting?

8. What do the people in the barn do when Edward tells them he is the king of England?

9. What does Tom do after dinner?

10. What does Edward see when he wakes in the barn and what do the people talk about?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tom realizes that finding out as much as possible about the criminals' cases is the best way to determine their guilt or innocence. His careful examination of their situation shows that good judgment, and even wisdom, are not the sole province of either royalty or adults. In giving Tom personal knowledge of the man who was accused of murder, Twain shows how wrong justice can be.

1. Do you think it is conceivable that a boy from the slums would have the wisdom to figure out how to look at evidence in a criminal case and render such an astute judgment? Why or why not? Use examples from The Prince and the Pauper to support your ideas.

2. Do you think there are innocent people in prison in the United States? Explain your reasoning.

3. If Tom had not known personally that the man he saved from execution had a solid alibi, what steps could he have taken to get to the truth of the man's situation?

Essay Topic 2

Before Mark Twain begins his tale, his indication that it might or might not have actually happened is a way of suggesting that the facts themselves are secondary. What counts most, the author implies, are the truths to be found behind the events.

1. Discuss, in depth, what you think is meant by the above statement. Use examples from The Prince and the Pauper to illustrate your discussion.

2. List three truths you believe can be found behind the actual plot or actions in The Prince and the Pauper and explain why you believe those to be truths.

3. In your opinion, what is Mark Twain's agenda is for writing The Prince and the Pauper? Use examples from The Prince and the Pauper to support your opinions.

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in The Prince and the Pauper. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Twain chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Twain chooses the metaphors he does?

3. Discuss Twain's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, cliff hangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Twain use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

(see the answer keys)

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