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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. Who is Nancy's mother?

2. Where does Penelope go to find her father?

3. Why is Penelope depressed with her volunteer duties?

4. Who will be staying with Penelope for a little while?

5. What is Nancy's last name?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Hank Spotswood?

2. Why do the Lawrence Stern paintings have such an impact on Noel and Nancy?

3. Why is volunteer work during the war not a good choice for Penelope?

4. What is the story of Penelope's parents' relationship?

5. What is the flashback Penelope has to when she was nineteen?

6. What are some of the major differences between Olivia and Nancy?

7. Who is Doris Potter and how does she enter into the lives of Penelope's family?

8. How is Olivia's view of the Lawrence Stern paintings different from how Olivia views them?

9. What is life like for Penelope's daughter, Nancy?

10. What is Ambrose's real interest in Penelope?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Does Pilcher end the story on a note of hope for Olivia or the continuance of her struggle to come to terms with her flawed relationship with her siblings? Give your perspective and two reasons to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the role of women in England in the mid- to late-20th century when the women in the novel are living their lives. What precedents do they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do they have? What freedoms did they have that 21st century women do not have?

Essay Topic 3

Greed seems to be almost an unnamed character in the book. How pervasive is the sense of greed? Why does it have such a prevalent place in the lives of Noel and Nancy? Explain how an inanimate object or characteristic can be a character.

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This section contains 931 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample