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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. How does Maugham celebrate the completion of the rough draft of his novel?

2. To what city is Larry taking a ship?

3. Why does Maugham think that Elliott cannot stop going to parties?

4. What does Maugham think that Sophie is going through?

5. What does Elliott miss while he is bedridden?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way does Maugham criticize the church?

2. What does Larry learn about evil in India?

3. Why does Larry say he has had trouble believing in Christianity?

4. Describe the cafe in which Maugham and Larry drink?

5. How does Sophie give in to temptation?

6. What is Isabel's terrible news?

7. What does Elliot leave to the main characters in his will?

8. How does Suzanne become a successful artist?

9. What reasons does Larry give for wanting to marry Sophie?

10. Do you think there is anything suspicious about the incident with the vodka?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the following statement: "The Razor's Edge fails because it examines the effects of the First World War from too privileged a viewpoint." Using two examples from the book argue for or against the statement.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Look at the structure of the novel.

1) How does Maugham use character and dialogue to drive the narrative.

2) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

3) Away from the main character, Larry, examine the way Maugham uses the other characters in the story. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

(see the answer keys)

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