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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. How does Mary describe how Matthew was at first?

2. Who is Edgar Swift?

3. What does Edgar want Mary to carry with her to Florence?

4. What does Mary learn when Edgar arrives?

5. What does Karl point out to Mary as they are driving to her villa?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. What happens to distress Mary about Matthew?

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

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

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

9. How does Karl present himself?

10. What is passed around at the end of the party and what does Mary do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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