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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. Who is Ciro?

2. What does Mary do on the way home?

3. About what do Mary and Rowley speak at length?

4. Why is Edgar visiting?

5. What did Mary's mother point out to Mary when Mary was 19?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the Colonel think of Edgar's prospects in his career?

2. What does Mary think about Edgar's job prospects?

3. What is surprising about Mary's response to Edgar's proposal?

4. Why is Mary conflicted about attending the party?

5. What does Mary point out about Rowley's reputation and what is his response?

6. How does Edgar bring up the subject of marriage to Mary?

7. How does Rowley find the handgun in Mary's purse and how does that change the conversation?

8. Why does Rowley propose to Mary and how does she respond?

9. How does Mary meet Karl Richter?

10. What is paradoxical about the Princess's personality?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Up at the Villa, 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?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements (they may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not? Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Up at the Villa takes place in Tuscany, Italy in the late 1930s. Discuss the following:

1. Research and discuss the political setting of Italy and Europe in the late 1930s. How do you think the political situation informs the plot of Up at the Villa? Explain.

2. Discuss the lives of Mary and her social group in light of what is taking place in Europe in the late 1930s. Do you think they are unaware of the pending horror that is about to be unleashed? Do their behaviors seem superficial considering that refugees are coming into Italy (not just Karl) escaping an increasingly tyrannical Germany?

3. Do you think a novel set in Europe in this area can be successful when it ignores the dire situation in Europe? Discuss your answer.

Essay Topic 3

In chapter 4, the conversation between Karl and Mary turns to age and he says that he's twenty-three. She seems wistful, saying that he has the opportunities of youth in front of him, but Karl says that he's imprisoned by poverty. He admits to having no real plans for his future and presents a picture of hopelessness. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Karl is truly "imprisoned" by poverty? Why or why not?

2. What do you think Karl could do to break out of the prison of poverty? Why do you think he is either unable or unwilling?

3. Why do you think it is so hard to move out of poverty either then or now? What do you think it takes to move from poverty to plenty or even great wealth?

4. Is your personality such that you think you would be one of the few who do manage to break out of poverty if you were very poor? Explain how you might differ from Karl.

(see the answer keys)

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