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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. Why are the people of Wideacre suffering this winter?

2. Why does John end up comforting Beatrice?

3. Who does Celia think is Julia's father?

4. What is the name of the man for whom the pirate works?

5. Who tells Beatrice that Mama has died?

Short Essay Questions

1. What inadvertently happens to restore John's reputation as a doctor?

2. What causes Mama to collapse in the library?

3. Why will Beatrice not set up a home with John in spite of his generous offers?

4. What instructions does John provide to care for Mama who has had a major shock?

5. Describe the scene in which John is taken away by the doctors to begin his alcohol addiction treatment.

6. What foreshadowing does the author create to indicate the imminent fate of Wideacre and its inhabitants?

7. How does Beatrice know that Ralph is getting closer to returning to Wideacre?

8. How does Beatrice try to explain the "early" birth of her child?

9. Explain Beatrice's perspective on love.

10. Describe the scene of desperation that Harry and Beatrice witness at the Christmas party.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of evil. Identify at least two themes about evil in the book. Then cite an example to support each theme you name.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the overall setting for the story. Why does the author use the setting she does? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the characters?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the taboo of incest as portrayed in the story. Why would the author have included such a controversial topic in the novel? Was incest more accepted in the 18th century than it is now? Explain.

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