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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 Mary relieved to find at the social function at the Villa Bolognese?

2. What does he say she should do about her commitments that day?

3. What is rumored about Karl?

4. How does Rowley get to Mary's villa?

5. Why is Mary angry with Rowley after he leaves?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Nina relate to Mary about what Nina learns from Agata?

2. What is the first way Rowley suggests they handle the situation and what is Mary's response?

3. What does the Princess learn about the violinist and what is her response?

4. Describe Karl's life in Austria.

5. Where does Mary go and why is she relieved when she arrives there?

6. How does Karl act when Mary pulls out the gun out of her purse?

7. What does Mary do that causes Karl to become even more angry and what is Karl's reply?

8. What startles Mary soon after Karl kills himself?

9. What does Mary rush to her dresser to find and why?

10. Why does Mary call Rowley?

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

W. Somerset Maugham was quite a prolific writer and lead a somewhat unconventional life for the times. Discuss the following:

1. Research and write an informative essay about the life of W. Somerset Maugham.

2. In what ways do Maugham's beliefs seem to be reflected in Up at the Villa?

3. Do you think Maugham is more like Swift or Flint? Explain your answer with examples from your research and the text.

4. How much of an author's personality do you think is reflected in his/her writing? Can an author keep him/herself completely out of the text? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

Titles are thought to be very important in both giving the reader a clue about the story and enticing one to read a book. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think Up at the Villa is the chosen title for this novel?

2. Do you think this title would entice you to read this novel? Why or why not?

3. Do you think this rather nondescript title reflects the story it heralds? Explain your response using examples from the book.

4. If you had to title this novel in order to encourage more readers, what would you name it and why?

(see the answer keys)

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