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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. With what is Debbie obsessed when Isobel arrives home?

2. What is one thing Mr. Rice leaves behind when he vacates the house?

3. Where does Charlotte serve the children lunch?

4. Why do the Baxters call their home "Sithean"?

5. For how long have historians searched for the Fairfax jewel?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Isobel come to find a single, unusual shoe in Vinny's closet and what is Vinny's reaction?

2. What does Isobel say are Charles' hobbies, and how does he relate one of his hobbies to his mother?

3. How do Isobel and Charles find their mother and what do they do?

4. What are the circumstances surrounding Charlotte's death?

5. What does Isobel observe on a visit to the Baxters in autumn?

6. What happens when Charles is eight years old?

7. How does Debbie explain the raw meat on the table one morning?

8. What are the signs that Vinny is a poor caregiver for the children?

9. How is Mr. Rice presented in a less-than-favorable narrative?

10. Who is Audrey, and how does her father treat her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Atkinson chooses to write the novel in different points of views. Discuss the following:

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this novel being written in several points of views?

2. Do you think the novel would be more effective in a different point of view? Which one if so?

3. When do you think an author is most likely to use the first person point of view? Second person? Third person omniscient? Third person limited?

4. Do you think the narrators in "Human Croquet" are reliable, i.e., do you believe the narrator is completely unbiased? Explain your response.

5. What is your favorite point of view to read? Or do you have a favorite.

Essay Topic 2

Plots are sometimes said to be either character-driven or action-driven. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think "Human Croquet" is more character-driven or action-driven? Or balanced between the two? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in "Human Croquet". Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of individual freedom in the story. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess individual freedom? Why? Why is individual freedom more difficult to obtain for some characters than other ones?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of abuse in "Human Croquet". Which characters are abusive to others, either physically, sexually or emotionally? Which are being abused? What is the response to the abuse of the ones being abused? Why do you think each of the abusers do so?

(see the answer keys)

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