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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 was Beatrix excited to show off at local county fairs?

2. Which of Beatrix's American-published books was a failure?

3. What did Beatrix find difficult about farm life?

4. Where did Beatrix find her mother a new home after the War?

5. How big was Trouthbeck Park?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Lane note Beatrix's stories lacked?

2. What does Lane say caused "Sister Anne" to fail?

3. How did Beatrix feel about being a celebrity?

4. What does Lane say of the subtleties in Beatrix's stories?

5. What inspired Beatrix's story, "Roly-Poly Pudding"?

6. What interested Beatrix at Troutbeck Park?

7. How did Beatrix's parents react to her engagement to Mr. Heelis? How did her brother defend her?

8. What does Lane believe was Beatrix's greatest achievement after her 'golden decade' of writing?

9. What does Lane say was the core of Beatrix's genius?

10. What were Beatrix's initial plans for Hill Top Farm and its tenant farmer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and interpret Beatrix Potter's canon of work. What are some common themes and motifs of the stories? Who are some of the more popular characters? Where did Beatrix gain inspiration from for the characters and settings of the books? Why were some of the stories more successful than others?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Beatrix's life after she married. How did her life change after she married William Heelis? Why did she stop writing? What did she become passionate about? How did her personality change?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Beatrix's love of nature. How did her childhood visits to Scotland influence her? How was Beatrix's love of nature reflected in her work? How did Beatrix's love of nature lead her to give up writing and pursue other endeavors?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 747 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample