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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 hobby do Ambrose and Rachel have in common?

2. How long does Rachel say she had originally planned to stay with Philip?

3. What alternative to a brain tumor does Nick Kendall suggest to explain Ambrose's incoherent letter?

4. What did a young Philip do before walking away from the hanged man?

5. After receiving Rachel's letter about coming to England, how does Philip ask his godfather to respond?

Short Essay Questions

1. What reason does Philip give Rachel for not hating her now that he has met her?

2. What does Philip intend to do when Rachel comes to see him?

3. Why does Philip think Rainaldi looked shocked when they first met?

4. Why does Ambrose tell Philip that Tom Jenkyn had no excuse for killing his wife?

5. What does Philip find striking about the portrait he sees hanging in Aunt Phoebe's rooms before Rachel comes?

6. How did Ambrose say that Rachel is related to the Ashley family?

7. Why does Philip feel ashamed of his feelings when Ambrose wrote to say he was engaged?

8. Shortly after Rachel's arrival, why does Tamlyn fail to come and collect his pay at the usual time?

9. What does Rachel do that impresses Philip while she and Philip are out riding the estate?

10. Why do the servants address Philip differently when he returns home from Italy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Philip’s inexperience with women leads him into awkward and sometimes dangerous situations with the women in his life. Write an essay explaining how Philip’s inexperience with women and love puts him in a position to be used by women.

Essay Topic 2

Though the topic of the novel is a serious one, the author still finds ways to infuse the book with humor. Write an essay explaining how the author uses humor. How does humor affect the reader’s perception of the characters? What does the author hope to achieve through humor?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss how Philip’s views of marriage change from the beginning of the book until the end. What causes him to change his mind about getting married? Are his expectations of marriage realistic? What is his opinion of marriage after his time with Rachel has concluded?

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