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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. Holgrave tells Phoebe which story?

2. What does Clifford begin doing after Phoebe leaves?

3. What does Phoebe tell Holgrave after he reads her his story?

4. How does Clifford act when he appears again after his meeting with the Judge?

5. In what way does Maule hope that Alice can help him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Maule do to Alice?

2. Describe Matthew Maule's demeanor when he came to the house.

3. What happens to cause Phoebe to have more leisure time, and how does she spend it?

4. What did Phoebe do and what was the impact on the mood of the House?

5. Describe what life is like for the four residents of the House.

6. What does Hepzibah find in the parlor?

7. How is Phoebe changing, and why?

8. How is Clifford's homecoming both bitter and sweet?

9. What childish impulse does Clifford give in to and who witnesses it?

10. How has Clifford's behavior changed when he comes back?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay discussing the importance of the old portrait of Colonel Pyncheon. How does the presence of the portrait influence the events and the atmosphere of the House? Why is its placement important? What does the portrait symbolize?

Essay Topic 2

Holgrave’s daguerreotypes play important roles at specific points in the narrative. Write an essay that explores the significance of the old photographs, how Hawthorne uses them and how they help develop the themes in the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Natural details in the novel play a small but noteworthy part in developing the setting and supporting the themes. Write an essay on the importance of natural elements, including the tree, the garden and the posies.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 692 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample