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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. In "The Malice of Inanimate Objects," what does Mr. Burton put his cane through?

2. What does Miss Denton decide to make curtains from, in "The Diary of Mr. Poynter"?

3. In what month will a person die if he or she touches the carvings, in the story "The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral"?

4. In "An Episode of Cathedral History," what did Mr. Worby see as a child?

5. There are several carvings in John Haynes' office made from a tree. What is significant about the tree?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Lady Ivy and what does she want?

2. What did the dean find when he remodeled the church, in "An Episode of Cathedral History."

3. Why does Squire Francis Bowles want to be buried in an earthy grave?

4. What does Mr. Harrington return to Mr. Karswell, and what happens to Mr. Karswell, at the end of "Casting the Runes"?

5. Why does Mr. Lake go to the cathedral, and who does he stay with in "An Episode of Cathedral History"? Why is this person important to the tale?

6. Who is John Haynes, in the story "The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral"?

7. What does Mr. Thomson find in the strange room, in the story "Rats"?

8. Why is Mr. Karswell, one of the main characters in "Casting the Runes," a vicious man?

9. In "The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral," how did John Haynes' predecessor die?

10. What does the narrator learn about the wood carvings, at the end of "The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does James address the theme of revenge in his book? Choose two examples and explain how these examples contribute to the theme of revenge.

Essay Topic 2

How does James use the theme of greed in his stories? Choose one story that uses the theme of greed and explain whether James uses the story to teach a lesson. What is that lesson and how does James present it to the reader?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the character of Dennistoun. Why does James choose to use this character in another story? What is the benefit of this? What is the significance of Dennistoun not believing in the supernatural?

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