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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 Merricat admire at the beginning of Chapter 8?

2. Who throws a rock through the Blackwood's window?

3. In Chapter 9, what do the girls find lying just inside the drawing room door?

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

5. What does Charles do while the house is on fire?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Merricat notice is different when she returns home in Chapter 8?

2. In Chapter 7, what does Merricat decide to do on Thursday? What is special about Thursdays?

3. What does Merricat do in order to get Charles to leave her house?

4. After the fire, what do the sisters find to use for clothing?

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

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

7. After the fire, what does Merricat say are her new safeguards? Why does she think she needs new ones?

8. What state is the kitchen in when the girls return home?

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

10. What does Charles say he wants to go through in Chapter 6? How does Julian react?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze Jackson's use of irony. What are some examples of irony in the novel? How do these examples affect the reader's experience?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the motif of loyalty in the novel "We Have Always Lived in the Castle." Who is loyal to whom? In what way does Constance's loyalty to her sister negatively impact her life? Is the loyalty between Merricat and Constance swayed at any time?

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?

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