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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 Aphra run at Anna with when Anna bursts in the door?

2. What was in the pot the Mowbrays were boiling?

3. What does Mompellion do after Elinor's death that is unusual?

4. What deal does Anna make with her father in return for his service digging graves?

5. What is the condition of Anna's father when they find him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Aphra blame Anna for her husband's death? What does Anna notice about Aphra when they bury him?

2. What child do Anna and Elinor help? What do they do to help this child?

3. What makes Anna even angrier as she leaves the Mowbrays'? What conclusion does she consider as a result of this?

4. What plan does the rector come up with to save the village? What is the reason for this action?

5. Where does Anna hope she will find relief? How does her knowledge of herbs comfort her?

6. Where does Anna end up at the end of the novel? What does she choose as her life's work?

7. Why does Anna take Anteros for a ride? What do you think this symbolizes?

8. Why is the rector summoned to Christopher Unwin's house? Why does Anna see Christopher again later, bloody and naked?

9. What is Anys carrying when she runs at the rector with the knife? How does this spur her to murder Elinor?

10. What does Elinor say when she is delirious? What might this mean? Why does the rector excuse Anna so curtly?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Think about the difference between the Gowdie garden and Elinor's garden. Are Mem's and Anys's fates much different from Elinor's? How might these gardens affect their deaths? Think specifically about the reasons for these characters' deaths and each garden's instrumentality in the survival of the village.

Essay Topic 2

Think about Anna's decision to use fire in Merry's Wickford's family mine. Do you think this was an intelligent decision? What might cause Anna to risk her life so readily? What does she see as she starts to lose consciousness? Do you think perhaps Anna was looking forward to death? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Anna and Elinor have a very close relationship in the novel, almost that of mother and daughter. Discuss the evolution of their relationship, and how Elinor fills a void in Anna's life, especially after the loss of her sons. Think of Anna's upbringing, her class, and job.

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This section contains 910 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample