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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 the Princess say she learned from the restaurant manager?

2. What does Mary force herself to do?

3. How has Mary's opinion changed of Rowley?

4. Who comes to ask about the gunshot?

5. What does the Princess ask Mary?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Mary call Rowley?

2. What does Rowley advise Mary to do before he leaves early that morning?

3. What are Mary's thoughts as she is getting read to go to the luncheon?

4. What is said between Rowley and Mary about Edgar and Mary's possible marriage to him?

5. Who wakes Mary and what does Mary tell the person?

6. How does Karl end up in a concentration camp and how does he get to Italy?

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

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

9. How does Mary feel about what Karl tells her about his life?

10. Describe the scene of Mary and Rowley getting rid of Karl's body.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

When Edgar is working up to proposing marriage to Mary and after his proposal, he lists the advantages of such a union. Discuss the following:

1. List three criteria which you believe are essential for a good marriage. Discuss why you choose those three and then discuss if you believe Mary and Edgar's relationship possesses those qualities. Use examples from the text.

2. List three criteria which you believe make a successful marriage impossible. Discuss why you choose those three and then discuss if you believe Mary and Edgar's relationship possesses those qualities. Use examples from the text.

3. Using the three criteria which you list for both a successful marriage and those which would greatly hinder a successful marriage, argue whether or not you believe Mary and Rowley's marriage will be successful or a failure based upon the six criteria you cited.

Essay Topic 3

In chapter 8, Mary discusses her previous marriage with Matthew by saying that Matthew was charming, kind and fun until he was drinking and that even from the beginning she was distressed and ashamed of him when he went into drunken rages. Mary tells Rowley that she tried desperately to save Matthew from the drinking but that she couldn't, though sometimes they'd have horrible fights over it. Mary admits that she came to despise Matthew, knowing as she did about his secretive drinking and the affairs, but says she felt he was so dependent on her that she couldn't bring herself to end the marriage. Discuss the following:

1. Research and write a brief definition with examples of the term "co-dependent."

2. Do you think Mary is co-dependent with Matthew by the descriptions she gives of her behavior with him? Why or why not. Be sure to include specific examples to support your points.

3. In what other situations is Mary co-dependent? Be specific.

4. Do you think Mary is cured of her codependency by the end of the novel? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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