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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 is Charles born?

2. What does Charlotte say about Eliza one day to the children?

3. What does Charles give Gordon?

4. What occurs in Fairfax Manor in 1582?

5. What does Isobel find when searching Vinny's wardrobe?

Short Essay Questions

1. What gets Debbie's party off to a bad start?

2. What does Isobel think she sees Mr. Rice doing and what is the outcome?

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

4. Where does Malcolm take Isobel, and what happens there?

5. What does Isobel find at the back door when she and Isobel are home alone?

6. Where is Audrey's mother and how has her mother impacted Audrey and Charles' life?

7. Who is Francis Fairfax, and what does the narrator write about him?

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

9. What does Francis Fairfax give his new wife and what happens to the present?

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

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

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss "Human Croquet" based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if this is a successful novel.

3. Is "Human Croquet" a novel you would recommend to a friend? Why or why not? Explain.

4. Can a novel be successful and yet many readers not enjoy it? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

Many books are often made into a movie based upon the book. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think you would enjoy watching a film based upon "Human Croquet"? Why or why not?

2. Do you think the subject matter would be more difficult or easier to portray in film versus in the book? Explain your reasoning.

3. Would you allow your high school-aged son or daughter (imagining you have one) to view the film? Explain your answer.

4. How do you think the movie would differ from the book? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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