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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. To where does Percival travel from England?

2. What "ceremony" does Bernard dislike so much?

3. To what does the narrator compare the sound of the waves at the end of Section 3's beginning?

4. Who is the first of the female speakers in Section 3?

5. What is the name of the boys' headmaster?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe in your own words the scene at the very beginning of Section 1, and offer an idea of why Woolf would begin this novel in such a way.

2. Describe the differences in Jinny and Rhoda's experience's while at school in Section 2.

3. What is significant about the way Section 2 is introduced?

4. Which of the boys seems to have the strongest attachment to Percival? Please provide some evidence in your answer.

5. Why is Bernard's announcement of his engagement in Section 4 significant?

6. How does the group act differently when Percival arrives in Section 4?

7. Describe the way Section 3's introduction, the italicized vignette, fits in with the rest of Section 3 as a whole.

8. How are Jinny and Rhoda characterized in Section 3?

9. Describe the boys' experiences in chapel while at school in Section 2.

10. Describe how each character is presented in Section 1.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

For a novel that features characters who think so much about self-determination and identity, what does Woolf ultimately say about the quest for self-knowledge? Develop an argument that includes plenty of textual evidence to support your belief.

Essay Topic 2

When Jinny kisses Louis, only Susan is privy to the event, and this event should have only affected these three characters. But the loss of innocence pervades the whole novel. Write an essay which examines the theme of the loss of innocence, beginning with an analysis of "The Kiss" and its effect on the group.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the novel's two most troubled characters: Rhoda and Neville. Identify their weaknesses as individuals, and offer the sources of their peculiarities. This essay should include detailed descriptions and evaluations of each of these characters and even offer ideas as to how they function similarly and differently.

(see the answer keys)

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