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. What does Mary recall Rowley telling her?

2. Why does Rowley wish they had left the gun with Karl?

3. What does the Princess say she would do if she were such a poor musician?

4. What is Rowley's suggestion since Mary doesn't want to call the police?

5. What does Mary decide she must do as soon as possible?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Karl end up in a concentration camp and how does he get to Italy?

2. What does the Princess learn about the violinist and what is her response?

3. Why does Mary call Rowley?

4. Who wakes Mary and what does Mary tell the person?

5. Where does Mary go and why is she relieved when she arrives there?

6. Describe Karl's life in Austria.

7. How does Mary feel about what Karl tells her about his life?

8. What does Rowley point out to Mary to reassure her?

9. What does Rowley advise Mary to do before he leaves early that morning?

10. How does the altercation between Karl and Mary resolve itself?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Though Mary is fully an adult in her early thirties and has had an abusive marriage, she is still rather naive, though she seems to mature and become more of an adult by the end of the novel. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Mary as she changes from a rather naive woman to a sadder, but wiser, woman. What are the significant events in this brief week that change Mary?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Mary's growth, do you think Up at the Villa could be considered Mary's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in Up at the Villa who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast Rowley Flint with Edgar Swift. How are they alike? How are they different? Are they sympathetic characters? Who would you most likely have as a friend? Why? Is each one believable? Why or why not?

2. Compare/contrast Rowley Flint with Karl Richter. How are they alike? How are they different? Are they sympathetic characters? Who would you most likely have as a friend? Why? Is each one believable? Why or why not?

3. Compare/contrast Mary as she seems early in the book and in her flashbacks to how Mary is by the end of the book. Is she the same? Different? Wiser? More or less daring? Is she likable? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Titles are thought to be very important in both giving the reader a clue about the story and enticing one to read a book. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think Up at the Villa is the chosen title for this novel?

2. Do you think this title would entice you to read this novel? Why or why not?

3. Do you think this rather nondescript title reflects the story it heralds? Explain your response using examples from the book.

4. If you had to title this novel in order to encourage more readers, what would you name it and why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,145 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample