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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 do Alec and Richard laugh at, about Lord Horn's letter?

2. What causes Michael to change his mind about sleeping with Lord Horn?

3. How long does Katherine say that Richard has to give his answer about the job?

4. What are the revolting workers doing?

5. How did Applethorpe lose his arm?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the job that Richard is approached with in Chapter 8.

2. Why is the idea of becoming a swordsman a joke for Michael?

3. What happens when Alec wakes Richard during the night, after Richard's meeting with Katherine?

4. What interferes with Ferris speaking privately with Basil after their dinner together?

5. What message does Lord Ferris ask Katherine to send to Richard?

6. What is the conflict between Lord Basil Halliday and Lord Karleigh?

7. What do Richard and Alec say about the Duchess, as they watch the party?

8. Why doesn't it matter what Michael is wearing at the Duchess's party?

9. What does Richard say after he kills Brent?

10. Why are Lady Mary Halliday and Duchess Tremontaine annoyed when Lady Godwin and her son arrive?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The nobility in the novel is very concerned with appearances and fashion. Discuss the role of appearances and fashion in the novel.

1) How is the nobility obsessed with appearance? How does appearance affect social status?

2) Why doe Richard get a new suit to go to the theater? What is his perception of this suit, and what role does it play in the culture he is moving in?

3) What does the nobility's obsession with appearance and fashion say about their values?

Essay Topic 2

In the novel, Richard seeks revenge for Alec. Discuss revenge in the novel.

1) Why does Richard want to hurt those who have hurt Alec? What motives are mixed with a desire for revenge?

2) What other characters want vengeance in the novel? How do they seek revenge? How do characters hurt others who have hurt them?

3) What is Michael's attitude toward revenge? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the novel's point of view.

1) Why does the novel move between different characters' points of view? What different perspectives does it give the reader?

2) What are the primary characters whose points of view are shown in the novel? Find a character who never takes the narrative point of view. Why is this character excluded?

3) How much does the reader's perspective change as the point of view switches between different characters or areas of the society?

(see the answer keys)

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