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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 Nina?

2. How does Mary respond to Edgar's question?

3. What does Rowley believe about Mary as far as Edgar is concerned?

4. What happens as the party is about to end?

5. Who is Ciro?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What are the topics of conversation between Rowley and Mary?

3. How does Mary begin to respond to Matthew's drinking?

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

5. How does Karl present himself?

6. What happens to distress Mary about Matthew?

7. What does narration say of the villa in which Mary is staying?

8. What does Mary say about why she marries Matthew Panton?

9. What does Mary think of the Princess' comments on marriage to Edgar?

10. How long has Mary known Edgar and what was Mary's mother's opinion of the man?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mary and Rowley take Karl's body and dump it in some weeds, though they really have done nothing criminally wrong. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Mary and Rowley do the best thing considering the circumstances? What could they have done differently? Is it conceivable that Mary is correct in fearing being arrested?

2. Do you think Mary is directly responsible for Karl's death? Why or why not?

3. Do you think Mary is morally responsible for Karl's death? Why or why not?

4. What do you think Mary could have done to prevent Karl from killing himself?

5. What would you have done in Mary's place when Karl first expresses his desire to see Mary again?

Essay Topic 2

There are a number of interesting questions raised by this book--questions that Maugham may have wanted the readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the author's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Maugham's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss Up at the Villa based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Up at the Villa is a successful novel.

3. Is Up at the Villa a novel you would recommend to a friend? Why or why not? Explain.

4. Can a novel be successful and yet many readers not enjoy it? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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