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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. Where does Robbie want to go, with the help of the money of Jack Tallis?

2. Who does Emily think will be hindered in her search for a husband because of her education level?

3. While Briony is sick of being outdoors, she is not ready to ________.

4. Who does Cecilia think has his eye on Lola, as she has observed from his behavior around Lola?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Cecilia do in order to brighten up the guestroom for Paul Marshall, a friend of her brother's?

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

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

4. What are some of the things that Robbie's tiny office contains?

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

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

7. Why is Lola embarrassed by Marshall?

8. What is Robbie thinking of as he soaks in a bathtub?

9. What causes Cecilia to stop fixing the vase?

10. Why does Briony want to prepare her play to be seen by others?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The men of the story seem to play more of a background role, even though they are an integral part of the action.

Part 1: Describe the role of Leon. Who is he and what does he provide for the story?

Part 2: Describe the character of Paul Marshall. Who is he and what does he bring to the story?

Part 3: Describe the character of Robbie. Who is he and what does he bring to the story?

Essay Topic 2

The character of Cecilia is one that seems a bit complicated to the reader and to the actual story's movement.

Part 1: Describe the character of Cecilia.

Part 2: Is Cecilia as grown up as she seems to be? Why or why not? Does Cecilia feel she is the adult everyone believes her to be?

Part 3: How is Cecilia affected by the loss of Robbie and by the story of Briony?

Essay Topic 3

The tragedy of Briony becomes all the more disturbing when the reader finds out she has an illness at the end of the story.

Part 1: What is the illness of Briony at the end of this book?

Part 2: What does this illness seem to say about the idea of memories?

Part 3: What might this illness be symbolic of within the context of the story? In other words, what might this illness seem to say about the idea of memory and about holding onto one's memories?

(see the answer keys)

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