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. From the description at the beginning of this chapter, what would be a good word to use to describe Walter Hardy's expression?

2. What surprises Sally about Oliver?

3. What is the toothbrush-holder made of?

4. What is the cause of Mary's emotional distress?

5. What world does Laura feel she now inhabits?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is suicide not an option for Laura?

2. What does Virginia see as a kind of devil?

3. In what way is Laura's ambivalence towards her husband evident in Chapter 19 of The Hours?

4. What distracts Laura as she gets out of her car at Mrs. Latch's house?

5. In what ways are Clarissa and Mary different?

6. Over what matters concerning Julia does Clarissa worry?

7. What is Richard's most precious memory of Clarissa?

8. What makes Virginia, at this point, begin to reconsider killing off her character, Mrs. Dalloway?

9. What is Sally's reaction to Walter's present-buying?

10. What are some of the ways in which Laura justifies to herself her trip to the hotel just in order to read?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

'In the debate about life versus suicide that tracks across the pages of Cunningham's The Hours, there is no winner.' Do you agree?

Essay Topic 2

'Clarissa Vaughan is the only attractive character in Michael Cunningham's The Hours.' Is this a fair comment? Discuss the main characters in the novel (Clarissa, Virginia, Laura, Richard) and refer to others as you think appropriate.

Essay Topic 3

In what ways do you think imagery is important in Michael Cunningham's The Hours? Consider concepts and characters and refer closely to the novel.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 821 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample