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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 does Walter Shandy decide to write in Volume 5?

2. How long does Toby know the Widow Wadham before he falls in love with her?

3. Who does Bridget plan to seduce?

4. Who needs to have an eye examined in Volume 8?

5. Who is called to tend Tristram's wound in Volume 5?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do Toby and Trim temporarily move in with Widow Wadham?

2. What could Bobby's death symbolize to Tristram?

3. Why does Walter Shandy write Toby a letter in Volume 8?

4. Why does Trim take responsibility for Tristram's injury in Volume 5?

5. What are the "beds of justice"?

6. How does Walter Shandy react to Tristram's injury in Volume 5?

7. How does Toby discover his love for Widow Wadham?

8. How does Toby plan to approach Widow Wadham about his affections?

9. What might Tristram mean when he describes romance as, "It is with love as with cuck-oldom"?

10. Why does Tristram decide to travel abroad in Volume 7?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What impact does superficial and self-serving behavior have on the characters in the novel? Do any of the characters demonstrate growth or emotional development? What point might Sterne be making about human behavior?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the perception Sterne's characters have about responsibility. Which characters take responsibility for their actions and which are always denying or ignoring their responsibilities? What point might Sterne be making about responsibility and compassion?

Essay Topic 3

How does the setting of the novel affect the mood of the story? Describe the differences between Sterne's masculine and feminine settings. Why does the masculine setting dominate the novel?

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