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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. What have rejected suitors been doing?

2. Why is Alexandra overjoyed in the morning?

3. What does Filbert say when Alexandra asks if all is prepared?

4. What does Fawkes tell Jordan?

5. How does Alexandra feel after the picnic with Jordan?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the scene when Bertie confesses and the aftermath.

2. Why does the Dowager ask Lord Ponsonby to dance with Alexandra and how does she respond?

3. What does Jordan hint about to Alexandra?

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

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

6. What happens to Nordstrom?

7. What does everyone not know about Jordan at the time of Alexandra's coming out ball?

8. What happens as Jordan is talking with Lord Camden and what does Jordan do as a result?

9. What gossip does the Dowager Duchess start?

10. How does Lord Carstairs create more tension between Jordan and Alexandra?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The topic of marriage is woven throughout Something Wonderful. Discuss the following:

1. Discuss the following attitudes toward marriage that the following characters seem to take: Alexandra (both at the beginning of the novel and at the end); Jordan (both at the beginning of the novel and at the end), Lady Catherine Harrington, Jordan's mother, Mrs. Lawrence and The Dowager Duchess.

2. How do you think the characters listed above would view marriage if they had similar personalities but lived in the 21st century United States?

3. If you were someone who knew nothing of England and her social customs of the time and took a couple years to observe its people, what would you say about the institution of marriage in England at the time (early 1800s)?

Essay Topic 2

Something Wonderful deals with the subject of gender, whether it is a deliberate inclusion by McNaught or not. Discuss the following:

1. Define the term "gender."

2. Does gender only refer to whether a person is male or female? Is gender easy to identify?

3. Discuss the English cultural definitions of gender during the time of Something Wonderful and the expectations for each gender. Do any of those expectations exist today?

4. Are women the only ones harmed by gender-based expectations? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

Something Wonderful ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are at least three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Something Wonderful and if it fulfills some or all of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Something Wonderful is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

4. Would you have wished the ending to be different? Why or why not? Would that have changed what the author wished to convey with the book?

(see the answer keys)

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