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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. For how long do Lucy and Anne stay at Barton Park?

2. Why does Mrs. Dashwood not want her daughters to mingle?

3. Why does Elinor try to spend more time with Lucy?

4. Why does Mrs. Dashwood like Edward?

5. Why does Elinor wonder if Marianne and Willoughby will be able to sustain a conversation?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what ways does Austen present Margaret as immature and a thorn in the flesh of the more practical Elinor?

2. How does Edward's arrival produce new hope for the Dashwood's?

3. Is it important that Mr. and Mrs. Palmer are opposites?

4. Why do you think Edward never approaches the subject of why he is so upset?

5. Why do you think Austen presents Sir John and his wife as nice people, but overall overbred simpletons?

6. Do you think John and Fanny have illegitimate reasons for not giving money to the Dashwood's?

7. What do you think the importance of Willoughby is to the story at this point?

8. In this chapter, why is Brandon's sudden departure so important to the development of his character and particularly in comparison to Willoughby?

9. Is Mrs. Jennings merely a gossip, or does she genuinely care about people?

10. What does Sir John's character say about eighteenth century upper class?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Pick a character from the novel and discuss their goals and motives. Do they achieve their motive? Why? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters with other characters? How do the character's goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the novel, Austen presents not only opposites attracting, but the only way life can run smoothly. For example, the emotional Marianne needs the practical Elinor, and the soft hearted John Dashwood needs his more hard hearted wife Fanny. If this is the case, why do you think Austen presents Elinor and Edward as such a good match? Is there a reason for this or it is an inconsistency in the novel? Do you think that following the theme of the book, Lucy would make a better match for Edward?

Essay Topic 3

Setting plays a big part in the novel, and the Dashwoods find themselves going from one extreme to another. With this mind, compare the following settings and its effects on the characters and the story. Do the characters behavior change during the novel? Is it significant Marianne gets ill in Cleveland rather than London?

1) London versus Cleveland

2) Norland Park versus Barton Park

(see the answer keys)

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