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

2. How does Mary describe how Matthew was at first?

3. What does Mary do on the way home?

4. Why does Rowley propose to Mary?

5. Why does Mary say about Matthew Panton?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is Mary's response to Rowley's questions about Edgar and how does Rowley respond?

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

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

5. What sort of arrangements does Edgar make with Ciro?

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

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

8. How does Mary meet Karl Richter?

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

10. Why does the Princess choose the restaurant they are at for the party and how is she disappointed?

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

Rowley isn't very favorably seen by his peers and Mary says that his biggest disgrace is that he's never had to work. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think it is harmful for someone to be "born into money"? What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of such a situation?

2. What character traits of Rowley's do you think are directly or indirectly attributable to his never having to work and have all the money he needs/wants? Discuss fully using examples from the text.

3. Assuming you have not been born into the same type of situation as Rowley, do you think you would want to have been born into a very wealthy family that did not require you to earn a living? Why or why not.

4. What do you think Rowley should have been (could be) doing differently with his money that might be more positive--or is it positive enough to just want to enjoy life? Explain fully.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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