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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 was accused of the Blackwoods' murders?

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

3. Why is Constance expecting Helen Clarke to come by the house in Chapter 2?

4. On which days did Mary Katherine routinely go to the village?

5. What does the stranger who comes to the house in Chapter 4 call from outside?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did many members of the Blackwoods family die?

2. How does Stella act around Mary Katherine in Chapter 1?

3. What does Merricat come up with to keep the change away?

4. What does Merricat speak to Constance about playfully at the beginning of Chapter 5?

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

6. What does Mary Katherine think of the villagers?

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

8. What does Merricat blame for the arrival of Charles Blackwood?

9. Why does Julian say people should not be afraid to visit the Blackwood house?

10. What does Merricat say will remind her to be kind to Uncle Julian in Chapter 4?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and interpret the character Merricat. What are her defining character traits? Is she a reliable narrator?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the conflicts of the novel "We Have Always Lived in the Castle." Who is in conflict with whom and why? How do these conflicts affect the plot and the characters?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Jackson's use of foreshadowing. What are some examples of foreshadowing in the novel? Why does Jackson use foreshadowing?

(see the answer keys)

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