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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 Yvonne and Hugh become upset during dinner?

2. What geographical item does Yvonne admire in the distance after the bus ride?

3. Who does the consul claim had the right to die?

4. Why does the visitor arrive at Laruelle's house?

5. What small charge do the police accuse the consul of?

Short Essay Questions

1. As the consul is having sex with the whore, what are the voices in his head telling him?

2. How does Yvonne ultimately die?

3. Why is Yvonne really in such a hurry to leave Laruelle's home?

4. What do Laruelle and Hugh have in common from their childhoods?

5. As he reflects on his life at the hotel, what does the consul think about his happiness?

6. What causes Yvonne and the consul to feel happy and in love again during the bull fight?

7. Why does no one offer to help the man who gets on the bus who has clearly been mugged?

8. In his drunken rage at the hotel restaurant, what does the consul claim about people being involved in his life?

9. What does Yvonne experience as she falls/dying?

10. What does Laruelle point out to the consul about why his lack of excitement about Yvonne's return is ironic?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the reader supposed to assume happens to Hugh? Make sure to use direct evidence from at least three instances in the text that you feel supports your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Given what you know about Malcolm Lowry, write an argument about how "Under the Volcano" is semi-autobiographical. Make sure to use facts from Lowry's life as well as direct evidence from the text to support your position.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss three things that Yvonne's passion for and knowledge of astronomy symbolizes in "Under the Volcano."

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 740 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample