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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 flowers does Allegra choose?

2. What did Allegra do to Winifred when Julian was at the boys' club?

3. Where does Helena go with Mildred and her companion when they bump into each other?

4. How does Mildred feel after refusing the invite?

5. What does Helena ask Mildred to do after she bumps into her in the village?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the drama with Julian, Winifred, and Allegra affect Mildred afterward?

2. Why problems is Winifred having with Allegra?

3. What does Mildred discover while taking care of the Napiers' apartment?

4. Describe Mildred's dinner with Everard's mother.

5. What does Allegra suggest over lunch and how does Mildred react?

6. What does Julian say to Mildred after Mildred finds out about his engagement to Allegra?

7. What does Allegra tell Mildred while they are having lunch?

8. What does Julian announce when he arrives at Mildred's apartment?

9. What does Rocky ask Mildred in a letter and how does Mildred react?

10. After speaking with Miss Clovis, what does Mildred discuss with Winifred?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss marriage in Excellent Women. How is marriage viewed by the characters in the novel. What does marriage have to do with the issues that Mildred faces? What are Mildred's views on marriage? How does the author portray marriage in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the author Barbara Pym. What genre of novel does she usually write? Does Excellent Women have anything in common with Pym's other work? Is Pym a respected writer in her field? Are there any elements of her background found in the novel Excellent Women?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the setting of the novel Excellent Women. Where and where is the novel set? How does the time period affect the storyline? How does the place affect the storyline? Would the story change drastically if the time or place were to change?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 759 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample