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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 does Clarissa imagine her roses appear to be, according to Mary's view of the world?

2. What will haunt Clarissa's life?

3. In Walter, what does Sally find unbearable?

4. What do Virginia and Vanessa do behind Nelly's back?

5. Why can't Laura take the sleeping pills?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why is suicide not an option for Laura?

3. Why does Laura delay joining her husband in bed as his birthday draws to an end?

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

5. What is ironic about Richard's apartment being open to the light?

6. What is unusual about Louis' visit?

7. What does Louis think of Clarissa?

8. In what ways are Clarissa and Mary different?

9. What fears does Virginia have at this point in the novel?

10. Why has Virginia's attitude changed?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one major character from the novel The Hours and explore the way in which conflict is important to that character's development.

Essay Topic 2

'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 3

Writing has been said to hold a mirror to life. What do you see of life in The Hours and how is this vision significant?

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