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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 does Edgar ask Mary?

2. What does Mary admit she came to feel?

3. Where does Rowley suggest Mary and he go that night?

4. What does Mary extol?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why is Mary conflicted about attending the party?

4. How does Mary meet Karl Richter?

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

6. What happens to distress Mary about Matthew?

7. How has Mary been spending her time lately and what bearing does that have to do with Mary being at the villa?

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

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

10. How does Mary end up driving Rowley to his hotel and what happens?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

In chapter 4, when Karl and Mary are walking in the garden, Mary is suddenly beset with the idea of giving him the gift of a sexual encounter and they go back into the house together. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Mary has thought through the idea of having sex with Karl long enough?

2. Can a one-time, sexual encounter with a stranger be a gift? Do you think it would be something that is kind and loving to do?

3. Other than making Karl feel good for a few hours, could Mary's gift be of any long term value?

4. Do you think Karl is ungrateful to not just accept Mary's gift and willingness to be kind to a stranger?

Essay Topic 3

Edgar had been a family friend from the time of Mary's youth. She says that when she was nineteen, her mother pointed out that Edgar was in love with her and Mary had dismissed the idea, saying that Edgar - at forty-three - was "an old man." Discuss the following:

1. Do you think many marriages where there is over twenty years difference in age can be successful? Explain your answers with examples from your personal knowledge and from the text.

2. What do you think is the likelihood that marriage to Edgar would be fulfilling and happy for Mary? Give examples from the text to support your statements.

3. What do you think is the likelihood that marriage to Mary would be fulfilling and happy for Edgar? Give examples from the text to support your statements.

(see the answer keys)

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