View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where are the Dashwoods preparing to travel to?

2. When do Elinor and Edward get married?

3. Who does Mrs. Dashwood receive letters from?

4. Who arrives at the cottage unexpectedly?

5. Who do John and Fanny plan a party for?

Short Essay Questions

1. Is Elinor closer to Marianne in character than first thought?

2. In what ways does Marianne's illness show the difference between the characters?

3. Why is it important that the Colonel is one of the oldest characters in the book?

4. What did you think are the differences between Willoughby's story and Brandon's earlier tale?

5. Why does Austen present John Dashwood as a comic figure?

6. Does Elinor make the right decision in telling her about Willoughby?

7. How do the sisters differing reactions to leaving London show the contrast between sense and sensibility?

8. Do you think the Dashwoods like John?

9. Is Willoughby a better match for Marianne than the Colonel?

10. How much does Marianne's mental state contribute to her illness?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss whether you think this statement is true or false: In Sense and Sensibility, the female characters are stronger than the male characters and control the story. Use one of the relationships in the novel--for example, Elinor and Edward, to highlight your argument.

Essay Topic 2

How much is Marianne's depression responsible for her illness? Is her changeable mood also responsible for her recovery? What do you think this says about Austen's thoughts on illness and eighteenth century society in general?

Essay Topic 3

The Dashwoods seem to complement each other perfectly and even though they have problems they work together to get out of them and end the story finding happiness. How do you think they work together so well? What are their individual roles? Is one person stronger than the other?

Take away a member of family from the story and discuss how the story could have been different. Would Marianne still be alive? Could Elinor maintain her practical outlook?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 770 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample