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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 do Constance's guests encourage her to do in Chapter 2?

2. What does Merricat hope would happen to the people who come to her house uninvited?

3. What does Merricat suggest Constance make for Julian in Chapter 3?

4. What do the Blackwood girls do on Mondays?

5. What does Mary Katherine think of the villagers?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the Blackwoods' collection of preserves.

2. What does Merricat recite after Charles offers carry out her errands in the village?

3. What does Julian ask Charles about at breakfast? How does Charles act toward Julian?

4. What does Merricat feel is coming in Chapter 3?

5. What are Mary Katherine's thoughts about the Rochester house?

6. What are Merricat's safeguards as described in Chapter 3?

7. What kinds of things does Merricat say the people who would come to her house looking for Constance after the murders would do?

8. Who are Julian and Jonas?

9. What does Julian describe in detail in Chapter 3?

10. What do Helen and Mrs. Wright encourage Constance to do in Chapter 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Constance's agoraphobia. How does it affect her life? How does it affect Merricat's life? What might be the cause of Constance's agoraphobia? What tone does this aspect of her character create?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and interpret the character Constance. What are her defining character traits? What is her role in the story? How is she related to the protagonist? Is she an important character?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of death in the novel. How does Jackson illustrate the theme of death? What do the characters think of death?

(see the answer keys)

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