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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 is most important to the high society in the novel?

2. What does the Duchess give to the man Michael believes she is having an affair with?

3. What are Richard and Alec hoping to find, when they go out?

4. What is Basil concerned about, regarding his position as Crescent Chancellor?

5. What weapon does the woman who is accosted by a drunk in the Three Keys Tavern have to defend herself with?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Richard St. Vier give his landlady when he first sees her in the novel, and why?

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

3. Who do Richard and Alec meet as they watch the party, and what does this person tell Richard?

4. How does Lord Horn end up angry at Michael during the Duchess's party?

5. Why is it ill-advised for Lord Horn to send the letter he sends to Richard?

6. What does Richard say after he kills Brent?

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

8. What is Michael's relationship with Vincent Applethorpe?

9. Describe what Michael overhears between Michael's casual male lover and the woman Michael has just slept with.

10. Why does Michael originally decide that he will sleep with Lord Horn?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The world of the novel is run primarily by men, leaving women as players in the background. Discuss the role of women in the novel.

1) What is the place of women in society in the novel? How is the role of women different on the Hill and in Riverside?

2) What is the Duchess's role in society like? How does she gather power in a world where men hold the power? How does she exemplify women among the nobles?

3) What is Katherine's role in society? How is her life different because she's a woman? What hazards and opportunities does her gender create?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

When Michael first meets Basil, he sees Basil as more manly. Discuss manliness in the novel.

1) In what ways does Michael become more manly over the course of the novel? Why? What does this say about the idea of manliness?

2) How is Basil manly? What does this say about his character?

3) How is Richard manly? What qualities of manliness does he have, and how do these qualities compare or contrast with Basil?

(see the answer keys)

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