Print
Word
PDF
|
| Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. Which of the following statements does not describe Silas Lapham's interactions with Zerilla Dewey and her mother, Moll Millon, in Chapter Twenty Three?
2. With what does Persis Lapham worry Irene will wear herself out?
3. How long does Silas Lapham travel out west at the beginning of Chapter Twenty One?
4. Which guest at the Coreys' dinner party thinks novels are "psychical suicide" and give too much importance to love, love-making, and marriage?
5. What advice is given to Silas and Persis Lapham at the end of Chapter Eighteen to handle the situation with Tom Corey?
Short Essay Questions
1. What moral dilemma does Silas Lapham have over Rogers's proposed business deal?
2. Describe the Civil War experiences Silas Lapham relates to the other guests at the Coreys' dinner party.
3. Which member of the Lapham family does not attend the Corey dinner party and what different reactions do Anna Corey and Persis Lapham have to the absence?
4. Describe Anna Corey's visit to the Lapham home in Chapter Twelve.
5. Describe Silas Lapham's financial status at the end of Chapter Twenty One and how it compares to his financial status at the beginning of the novel?
6. What strategies does Silas Lapham consider in Chapter Twenty Three for easing his financial woes?
7. Who is Mr. Sewell and what does he suggest that Silas and Persis Lapham do about the situation between their daughters and Tom Corey?
8. Describe Silas Lapham's interactions with Zerrilla Dewey and her mother, Moll Millon, in Chapter Twenty Three.
9. Describe Irene's reaction to the news that Tom Corey prefers her plainer sister, Penelope, to her.
10. Where does Irene go after learning the truth about Tom Corey's feelings for her, and what do her letters indicate about her activities there?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Discuss the mistaken romance of Irene and Tom Corey. What factors make Irene think Tom is interested in her? What factors make the Coreys and Laphams think Tom is interested in Irene? What factors indicate Tom is really interested in Penelope? Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.
Essay Topic 2
The Rise of Silas Lapham contains a number of instances of foreshadowing. Cite at least three examples of foreshadowing in the novel and how it is used to indicate events to come.
Essay Topic 3
Discuss the concept of social class in The Rise of Silas Lapham. Give examples of how at least three of the following characters exhibit typical or atypical behavior for their social class in the era in which the novel is set: Silas Lapham, Persis Lapham, Anna Corey, Nanny Corey, Tom Corey, Penelope Lapham, Zerrilla Dewey, Moll Millon, and Milton Rogers. What do you think William Dean Howells is trying to say about social class in the Gilded Age through these characters? Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.
|
This section contains 1,136 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
|
