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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. Why do the Laphams come to believe their home in Boston is in an unfashionable neighborhood?
2. Where does Bromfield Corey visit Silas Lapham in Chapter Eleven?
3. What newspaper has sent reporter Bartley Hubard to interview Silas Lapham in Chapter One?
4. In Chapter Nine, what is Silas Lapham fond of letting the public know?
5. Where was Silas Lapham born?
Short Essay Questions
1. What is Lapham's childhood and family background, and how does this background shape his values?
2. Describe how Silas Lapham gets into the paint business.
3. How does Silas Lapham feel about having Tom Corey work for him, and how does he feel about Tom's work?
4. What happens in Chapter Ten when Milton Rogers asks Silas Lapham for a loan, and how does Persis Lapham feel about the situation?
5. In what different ways do Silas Lapham and Persis Lapham react to Bromfield Corey's visit to Silas Lapham's office?
6. What arguments does Anna Corey give her husband for opposing their son's marriage to Silas Lapham's daughter?
7. How does Tom Corey describe the Lapham family to his mother?
8. What business proposals does Tom Corey suggest to Silas Lapham?
9. What kind of girl does Bromfield Corey think his son Tom should marry, and how do the Lapham girls compare to Bromfield's ideal daughter-in-law?
10. Describe Tom Corey's discussion with his mother in Chapter Eight about his entering Silas Lapham's paint business.
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
The Rise of Silas Lapham contains a number of instances of irony. Cite three examples of irony in the novel and discuss what you think the author intends to convey with each example.
Essay Topic 2
Discuss the meaning of the book's title. It indicates that Silas Lapham will rise during the course of the book, yet he falls financially, so what kind of rise does Silas experience and what incidents in the book illustrate that rise? What theme do you think William Dean Howells is trying to convey through the protagonist's fall and rise in this book? Cite at least three examples from the text to support your arguments.
Essay Topic 3
Compare and contrast the characters of Persis Lapham, Anna Corey, and Moll Millon. Include a discussion of their role as mothers and their influence on their children's lives. Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.
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This section contains 1,113 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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