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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. Tom reminds Edward of what event?

2. Where do Miles and Edward travel?

3. Why is Edward relieved?

4. What does the constable force the woman to do?

5. Where does the whipping boy ask Miles to wait?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Who picks a fight with Edward? Who wins? What happens because of the fight's outcome?

3. Describe Tom's appearance during the recognition procession. What custom does he follow?

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

5. Where do Miles and Edward go after leaving the constable? Describe the place.

6. What happens when Edith comes into the room to see Miles?

7. What does the woman in the house think of Edward? What does she ask him to do, and how does he do it?

8. What happens when Tom is being crowned?

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

10. What do Edward and Miles do when they leave Hendon Hall?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tom's charmed existence continues, while Edward's troubles only deepen, until he finally gets help from Miles Hendon. Just as this brave soldier rescues the boy, Tom reacts to news of the king's death by issuing a command to rescue the Duke of Norfolk from execution. Again, the contrast between Edward's helplessness and Tom's power is forcefully made.

1. Discuss the above statement in terms of power. Use examples from The Prince and the Pauper to support your ideas.

2. Discuss the ways in which Edward and Tom can both adapt to the huge changes in their lives. Use examples from The Prince and the Pauper to support your ideas.

3. Overall, how believable is the plot of this book? Discuss why it could seem real and why it seems completely unbelievable. For example, when the guards first pushed Edward out the gate, is it believable that palace guards wouldn't recognize their prince even dressed in rags? Use examples from The Prince and the Pauper to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

The prince finds that he is in the company of a gang of thieves and beggars, but Twain interjects a note of social concern by having Ruffler discuss farmers who have been forced off their property by landowners eager to enter the more profitable sheep business. One of the men named Yokel describes the oppressive political and economic conditions that forced him into a life of crime.

1. Do you think oppression or economic conditions are justification for resorting to crime? Why or why not? Use examples from The Prince and the Pauper to support your ideas.

2. If a farmer farms another person's land with the agreement that some of his or her harvest will go to the landowner, do you think the landowner has any obligation to maintain that arrangement if the owner decides he/she would rather raise sheep? Why or why not?

3. In the above situation, the farmers are farming land, raising families, and paying for the use of the land. Also, one might suppose they have made improvements on the land. However, the land is owned by another person. Although the life or rights of the farmer means the land stays in farming, the rights of the landowner are trampled if he/she doesn't have the right to do as he/she pleases. Describe how you might solve the situation if you were a judge and this case came to your court.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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