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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 supposed to help the children “work off their neuroses in a healthful way”?

2. How do the children react to the nursery being turned off?

3. What has the room become a channel for?

4. What is George going to do with the nursery?

5. Who threatens George?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does George’s reaction to Lydia’s fear signify?

2. Why does Lydia want George to look at the nursery?

3. Describe the sensory experience of the nursery. What senses does the nursery appeal to? Use a description from the text as an example.

4. Why does Lydia say, “The house is wife and mother now, and nursemaid”?

5. How do the children react when George and David McClean shut the nursery off?

6. Why does George feel perspiration on his brown when he is in the nursery?

7. Why do George and Lydia suppose that they cannot change the nursery?

8. What does Lydia hear that George does not – at least at first?

9. George threatens to turn the entire house off for a month, how does Peter react?

10. How does Lydia propose to change her feelings of worthlessness?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the final scene in The Veldt. David McClean walks into the nursery where the children are sitting having a picnic lunch watching the lions feed.

What are the lions eating? Why is their behavior disturbing? What is significant about Wendy offering Dr.McClean a cup of tea? What does their behavior suggest about this society, or future society?

Essay Topic 2

The story begins with Lydia’s concern regarding the nursery due to the African veldt, the lions and the reoccurring screams. The nursery reflects the children’s psyche.

What seems to be the problem with the nursery? Why is it concerning to George and Lydia? What does it suggest that the children are thinking about?

Essay Topic 3

Define plot and include the definitions of the most important elements of a plot. Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not? Write a brief synopsis of the plot of The Veldt, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot? Give a brief synopsis of any important sub-plots.

(see the answer keys)

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