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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 is the first name of Gray's father?

2. What is Suzanne suffering from when she meets Larry for the first time?

3. Where does Larry say he learned hypnosis?

4. In which city does Elliott usually reside?

5. With whom does Suzanne move to Paris?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Larry's opinion of Sophie?

2. What has happened to Elliott in Chapter 7?

3. What does Maugham say about a person's true nature in Chapter 3?

4. How is Larry when he meets Isabel and Gray in Chapter 7?

5. Describe Suzanne's life in Paris.

6. What were the author's reservations about writing the book?

7. What is Elliot's plan at the beginning of the fourth chapter?

8. Describe Suzanne's time with Larry in the country.

9. What is Sophie's tragic story?

10. Why does Larry leave Paris?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

The Razor's Edge is written in the first person and with the author himself as narrator. Why do you think Maugham chose to write the story in the first person? How do you think the meaning of the story would have changed if it were written in the third person? What difference does it make it make to the story that Maugham is one of the characters?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the novel's chronological setting.

1) What were the main concerns during the 1920's. How does Maugham express these concerns?

2) In what ways do you think the novel's meaning would change if it were set in today's society?

(see the answer keys)

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