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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 the only thing Mr. Tansley has to count on?

2. Why does Mr. Tansley feel proud for the first time in his life?

3. Why does Mr. Ramsay become angry with Augustus during dinner?

4. Why doesn't Lily want to see the paintings of the great artists?

5. How does Mrs. Ramsay try to lift James' spirits after his father's negative comments

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Mr. Carmichael's opinion of Lily when she refuses to give Mr. Ramsay the sympathy he is looking for?

2. What does Mr. Tansley do to predict the weather for the outing to the lighthouse?

3. Summarize the description Mrs. Ramsay gives of her husband's self-esteem?

4. As Lily paints, she thinks of a time on the beach with Charles Tansley many years before. Mrs. Ramsay was sitting near them, writing letters, and watching. How does Lily believe Mrs. Ramsay affected the way she and Charles acted toward each other?

5. Summarize what Mrs. Ramsay is feeling as she sits at the head of the table, ladling soup to her family and friends.

6. Although Mrs. Ramsay describes the summerhouse they are renting as shabby, what does she like about being there?

7. Describe the Ramsay's summerhouse now that Mrs. Ramsay has died.

8. What are James' and Cam's emotions as they sail to the Lighthouse with their father?

9. How does Lily Briscoe interpret William Bankes' feelings for Mrs. Ramsay?

10. Describe the scene as Mr. Bankes, Prue, Andrew, and Lily turn off the lights before going to bed.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1) Compare Lily Briscoe's thoughts and ideas as she paints the picture of Mrs. Ramsay and James in Part I of the novel to her starting the painting once again in Part III.

2) How does she feel about the painting in each of the two parts of the novel?

3) How do her views toward her art change from when she starts the painting to when she finishes the painting?

Essay Topic 2

The Lighthouse is one of the main constants throughout the novel. It is mentioned in all three parts of the story.

1) Explain the three different images Woolf gives of the lighthouse as the book progresses.

2) What is the significance of the lighthouse in each part of the novel?

3) What meaning does the lighthouse have for Mrs. Ramsay, James, Lily Briscoe, and Mr. Ramsay?

Essay Topic 3

1) Write an introduction to the novel discussing Virginia Woolf's writing style, use of dialogue, stream of consciousness, imagery, and point of view of the characters.

2) How do these literary elements affect the story?

(see the answer keys)

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