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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which of the following statements best foreshadows Maggie's death in the flood?

2. When Stephen and Maggie end up in a boat alone together, who is supposed to be there instead of Stephen?

3. What does Mr. Tulliver plan to do once the debts are paid?

4. Why does Mrs. Tulliver not want Maggie to do any work that is hard on her hands?

5. Why does Dr. Kenn hope that the good opinion of Maggie by some people is restored?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Research the legal issues that are raised during The Mill on the Floss. Then analyze Mr. Tulliver's legal problems. In your opinion, is Mr. Tulliver in the right? Why or why not? Use evidence from the book and from your own research to support your view.

Essay Topic 2

How does Maggie's childhood relationship with Tom foreshadow the relationship she has with him as an adult? Compare Tom's tendency to alternately indulge and shame Maggie as a child with the way he treats her as an adult, when he interferes in her relationships with men. Support your answer with examples from the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Write a paper analyzing the plot development in The Mill on the Floss. What do you feel is the climax of the plot? How does Eliot build tension prior to that point? How does she wind the book down after the climax?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 370 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample