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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 do Anna and the rector give Urith Gordon?

2. Why do Anna and Elinor go down into the Wickford mine?

3. Why is Elinor looking through the Gowdies' herbs?

4. Who finishes the sermon for the rector?

5. Why will Anna not testify for her father in court?

Short Essay Questions

1. Whom does Anna ask for help with digging the graves? Why won't he help?

2. Who does Anna see as she is trying to get water from her well? What new endeavor has he begun?

3. What do the rector and Elinor have their only disagreement over? How is Elinor's reaction significant?

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

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

6. Why is the rector exhausted during the chapter "Among Those that Go Down to the Pit"? What happens during his sermon?

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

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

9. What does Anna take to help her sleep? How does it work? How is it dangerous?

10. How does the rector react to Elinor and Anna's actions? What is odd about his reaction when he first sees them?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Think about the similarities and differences between Sam Frith and George Viccars. What needs would/did both fulfill for Anna? Who, in your opinion, would be better for Anna? Do either of these characters live up to the image of the rector that Anna has? Why?

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

Think about the argument to stay or leave the village when the plague strikes. In the scene in Colonel Bradford's house, where the Londoner and rector debate methods of dealing with the plague, who seems to be more passionate about his position? Does this passion help when the time comes to use it? Who do you agree with? Why?

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