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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 a woman called Ethel tell some children outside the Blackwoods' house?

2. What day does Merricat consider to be her most powerful?

3. How does Merricat describe the life that slowly took shape for her and Constance?

4. Who tells everyone at the house to stop taunting the girls?

5. What does Merricat consider burying in honor of Julian in Chapter 9?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 6, what does Charles say when Merricat asks him to go away?

2. What claim does Julian make about Merricat in Chapter 7?

3. What act commences the villagers' attack on the Blackwoods' house?

4. In Chapter 10, what does Merricat build to protect her and her sister? What item is brought from the house to add to it?

5. How does Charles show his greediness in Chapter 6?

6. What do the girls decide to do in honor of Uncle Julian in Chapter 9?

7. What does Merricat do when she peeks in at Charles's room in Chapter 8?

8. What do Constance and Merricat hear a woman tell some children in the Blackwood's yard?

9. Why does Charles come back to the Blackwood house?

10. What does Constance apologize to Merricat about at the end of Chapter 9?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author of the novel, Shirley Jackson. What other works has she received recognition for? Is her work usually similarly-themed? Does she always write in the same genre?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and interpret the secondary characters of the novel. Who are they and what are their defining character traits? How are they related to the protagonist? What is their role in the novel?

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)

This section contains 998 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample