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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 offers to take the lashes for Edward?

2. What does Edward decide to write?

3. What punishment does Miles receive at the trial?

4. What does the old man tell Miles about Edward's whereabouts?

5. Who says he does not recognize Miles?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who interrupts the hermit's plans for Edward? How does he miss seeing Edward?

2. What does Miles do as a test when he sees Edward on the throne? What is Edward's response?

3. How do Miles and Edward get away from the constable?

4. What does Ruffler decide Edward should do? What happens when Hugo takes Edward to do it?

5. What does Miles do when he and Edward get separated?

6. How does Tom feel when he sees his mother in the crowd? What does he do? What does she do?

7. How does Hugh react to Miles? What does he tell Miles? What is Miles' response?

8. What does Hugh suggest as Edward's punishment? What happens as a result of the suggestion?

9. How has Tom adapted to his role as king?

10. What does Edward do about his situation at Hendon Hall? How does Miles mess up Edward's plan?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The jewels in which Tom is draped are blinding in the light. Symbolically, they blind others to the boy as a false prince.

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in The Prince and the Pauper.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of The Prince and the Pauper. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of The Prince and the Pauper. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 2

Like many novels, The Prince and the Pauper ends on a happy (or at least optimistic) note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think most people want a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each reason in light of The Prince and the Pauper. How many of the reasons mentioned are fulfilled by the book? Using details from the book, explain how The Prince and the Pauper fulfills or fails to fulfill each reason.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

If Tom had not recognized, almost by accident, that he had the power to change people's lives with a word, the state of boredom might have gone on indefinitely. His initial interest in the prisoners he sees from the palace windows is just curiosity, but then he realizes that he can command them to come before him and hear about their cases.

1. The power Tom realizes he has interests him much more than the riches available to him. Discuss why you think power would be more tempting than riches to Tom. Use examples from The Prince and the Pauper to support your ideas.

2. Some would say that power and wealth are two sides of the same coin, one cannot have one without the other. Do you think this is true? Why or why not? Use examples from The Prince and the Pauper to support your ideas.

3. If you were offered large wealth but complete anonymity and no power or a lot of power over events but no wealth, which would you choose? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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