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. What does Alexandra do when she learns about her dance partner's intentions?

2. What does Alexandra fear when Jordan returns from the ball?

3. When is Jordan's birthday?

4. What makes Alexandra's situation more complicated?

5. What does Fawkes' staff intercept?

Short Essay Questions

1. What gossip does the Dowager Duchess start?

2. What is Alexandra's first response to Jordan's anger and how does Melanie change Alexandra's attitude?

3. How is Anthony and Alexandra's marriage halted just before the pronouncement of husband and wife?

4. How do Jordan and Alexandra differ in their reactions to being at Hawthorne?

5. About what does Jordan confide in Alexandra?

6. What does Anthony tell Alexandra that begins her getting over grieving Jordan?

7. What does Jordan initiate on the picnic and how does it reveal his feelings for Alexandra?

8. What do Alexandra and Jordan do that helps them relax with each other?

9. What does Alexandra do that upsets Jordan the next morning and what does he order her to do?

10. What does the Dowager finally ask of Anthony and what is his response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Something Wonderful, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

Plots are sometimes said to be either character-driven or action-driven. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think Something Wonderful is more character-driven or action-driven? Or balanced between the two? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Something Wonderful is an historical romance. Discuss the following:

1. Define the word "genre" in the context of literary criticism.

2. Why do you think fiction is categorized by genre?

3. Does it help to know how a book is categorized as to its genre before reading it? Explain.

4. Modern historical romance is often considered inferior to what are considered "the classics." Why do you think this is so? Do you believe a book such as Something Wonderful is inferior to something such as A Tale of Two Cities? Explain.

5. What is your favorite genre and why.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,151 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample