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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. Why does Isabel say she does not go with Larry's plan to travel Europe?

2. What is the first name of Gray's father?

3. With whom is Gray in love?

4. Where does Isabel ask Maugham to take them on his last night in Paris?

5. In what month of the year do Gray and Isabel get married?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the point of view Maugham uses.

2. What is Larry's opinion of Sophie?

3. How does Elliott try to help Larry?

4. What does Maugham say he has changed about the real story?

5. Describe Kosti.

6. What do the adults say about Larry's future?

7. Why does Larry want to go to Paris?

8. Describe Suzanne's life in Paris.

9. Describe Elliott's life on the Riviera.

10. What reason does Maugham give for Elliott helping Isabel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare the characters of Larry and Sophie.

1) In what way are their morals different?

2) What is their relationship to each other?

3) Do you think they are the perfect match?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the values of the 1920's.

1) Why was greed and loyalty such an issue during this time?

2) In what ways are the characters' negative characteristics a product of their time? Do you think America was going through a transitional phase in the 1920's? What significant changes do you think occurred during this period?

3)Does modern society share any values with 1920's America?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the problems Europe faced after the First World War. Did Europe change? How did this change affect America? Was this change reflected in the arts? Find an art movement after the First World War and examine what kind of thoughts and feelings it was trying to express. Are these thoughts also reflected in Maugham's the Razor's Edge?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 788 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample