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. Who does Mrs Dashwood thank?

2. Why does Mrs Palmer leave the house when Marianne falls ill?

3. Why does Robert regret his brother is becoming a rector?

4. Why is Mrs. Dashwood unhappy with herself?

5. Why does Willoughby say he had to get married to Miss Grey?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Austen present the character of John Dashwood?

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

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

4. How is Mrs. Dashwood one of the more unselfish characters in the book?

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

6. Why does the Colonel ask Elinor to tell Edward about his new position in the Parish?

7. Is is right that and true to the character of Elinor that she should forgive Edward so easily?

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

9. Do you think Marianne can be happy with Colonel Brandon?

10. Is Elinor and Edward's marriage a victory of true love over societal expectations?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Austen was an unmarried daughter of a rector. With this in mind and anything else you know about Austen's life, which character resembles Austen the most?

1) Does she use that character to give her opinions of eighteenth century society?

2) Which characters do you think Austen shows less appreciation for? How do these characters differ from the main character?

Essay Topic 2

Jane Austen often presents John Dashwood as a figure to make fun of. Do you think this is fair to his character? Is his decision not to give his sisters any money more than just a financial decision? Does he try to make it up to them as the story progresses? What does this say about his character?

Essay Topic 3

Willoughby and Brandon both tell stories that move the Dashwoods. Why do you think Brandon elicits more sympathy? What do the story says about their different personalities?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 877 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample