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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. To what age does Robbie's imagination take him as he is thinking about his and Cecilia's future?

2. From the window in what room does Lola notice Briony, as answered in question #49?

3. Whose passing into adulthood is Emily mourning in this section of the book?

4. What is wrong, according to the dictionary, and according to Briony's discovery in that dictionary?

5. Robbie's mother, __________, is a woman whose services are greatly valued by the Tallis family.

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Briony's reaction to her big brother when he approaches her?

2. Why does Emily retreat to her bedroom each and every day?

3. What does Briony imagine is happening when she sees Robbie and Cecilia are out at the fountain?

4. For what does Robbie type a letter to Cecilia as an apology?

5. Why does Robbie think he should have turned down Leon's invitation to dinner?

6. What does Briony realize to be one of the strengths of writing for drama?

7. What does Briony do as she constructs yet another story?

8. What mystery does Briony begin to contemplate as she is looking at her hand?

9. What does Cecilia's father disapprove of which she does in spite of this disapproval?

10. Who does Emily trust to take care of things around the house while she tries to rest?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The idea of a letter becomes an important plot point at several times in this story.

Part 1: List three instances in which a letter delivers an important message.

Part 2: Are there any instances in which a letter is used for a positive purpose? What are they?

Part 3: In today's times, could these messages be delivered by e-mail? Or is the structure of the letter crucial to its value and its worth? Does the actual format of the letter add to the meaning?

Essay Topic 2

The letter from Robbie to Cecilia sets off a chain of events in many respects. The importance of this letter cannot be denied.

Part 1: Why does Robbie write this letter in the first place? What is he trying to achieve?

Part 2: Why does Robbie decide to write another letter that is less crude? Why would he have been so crude in the first place?

Part 3: Why is Cecilia not bothered by the crudeness of the letter she does receive? What does this say about her?

Essay Topic 3

The theme of love and romance is an expected one in a novel containing a young girl who looks to her older sisters to see what "real life" will be like when she grows up.

Part 1: What does Briony think romance and love should include?

Part 2: What do you think Cecilia uses as a definition of love and romance? What does love include, according to her?

Part 3: Cite two examples of love relationships in this story. What do they have to say about the idea of love and its ability to heal and to hurt?

(see the answer keys)

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