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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. Why does one man say Sir Francis is fired?

2. What is being piped through the speakers in the funeral home?

3. How does Sir Francis have to get to work?

4. What is the name of the church where Sir Francis' funeral will be held?

5. Why is the person not pleased about Dennis' responsibilities?

Short Essay Questions

1. About what does the author warn readers?

2. Who arrives and what does he say to Sir Francis?

3. Why is Mr. Schultz displeased with Dennis and how does Dennis try to convince Mr. Schultz to feel otherwise?

4. What does the receptionist say to Dennis about burials?

5. What does Dennis find when he enters the Slumber Room?

6. What does Dennis see as he walks among the graves?

7. How does Dennis respond to finding a dead Sir Francis?

8. What does Aimée do to Sir Francis?

9. What does the opening to Chapter 1 describe?

10. Who comes through Whispering Glades to view Sir Francis' and who does not come through and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Waugh's sardonic take on the overwrought rituals of death in America intensifies in this chapter, as Dennis visits the prepared corpse of Sir Francis at Whispering Glades. Amid a profusion of flowers that itself seems cloying, the cricketing trophy reposes like a bad joke, as if the thing of principal value in this man's life was a social game. The Slumber Room is another tasteless touch, with its intimation that people should think of the corpse as merely having a nap.

1. Discuss the various rituals most Americans up hold around the event of the death of a loved one. Use examples from The Loved One and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think the rituals surrounding death in America are dysfunctional? Why or why not? Use examples from The Loved One and your own life to support your answer.

3. Discuss various reasons you can see behind the rituals of death in America and the hiding away of dying people. Use examples from The Loved One and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of narcissism in The Loved One. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters seem most narcissistic? Why? What are some symbols of narcissism? What are some of the behaviors of narcissism?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of denial in The Loved One. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to be in some sort of denial? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death in The Loved One. Consider not only the death of humans and animals but the comments the author makes on the ritual of death in America.

Essay Topic 3

1. What is foreshadow? How many incidences of foreshadow are in The Loved One? How does foreshadow contribute to a book's suspense?

2. Discuss an example of foreshadow in The Loved One including why you believe it is foreshadow. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from The Loved One and your own live to support your opinion.

(see the answer keys)

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