|Name: _________________________||Period: ___________________|
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What is Michael's solution to the upcoming disclosure of his lie to Newson?
2. In what state does Elizabeth find Henchard's gift?
3. On the day of the skimmity ride, who knows where Donald goes to?
4. What does Henchard do with his gift for Elizabeth?
5. What are Henchard's intentions when retrieving some letters from Farfrae?
Short Essay Questions
1. Michael shows changes for the better. But there are still times that Michael cannot empathize and understand another person's position. How does he show this lack of understanding that people behave differently than he?
2. Michael sees his effigy in the river and begins to lose any composure he has left. What is Michael thinking when he realizes what the image is?
3. After a visit to Ten Hatches Hole, Michael goes back to see Elizabeth. Henchard refers to himself as unlearned and ignorant. How does this show how Michael thinks differently of Elizabeth, even though he speaks about himself?
4. When Henchard goes bankrupt and feels shame, he turns to Jopp. Despite his harsh behavior towards Jopp, why does Henchard turn to him?
5. Any drama in Elizabeth's life is not from her own doing. She lives to see how others bear good and bad circumstances. As Elizabeth lives her life, what overall lesson does she learn?
6. When Henchard arrives at Farfrae's home, he has every intention to read Lucetta's letters to Donald and reveal the author. However, he does not. He reads the letters, but stops himself from telling anymore. Why doesn't Henchard go through with his plan?
7. Describe the relationship between the classes. How are they related to one another? Does one depend on the other? Are they co-dependent? Do they interact with one another? If so, how? What is different between the two classes? Can one move between the classes? How so? Who is an example?
8. When Michael pins Donald and is in a position to throw him down the trap door, Donald yells, "... take it, take it! Ye've wished to long enough!" What effect do these words have on Michael? If Donald does not said them, what happens?
9. Lucetta has a brief encounter with Henchard on the farm. In her anger, she is unable to speak her mind right away and leaves. Angry at Henchard's approach, she writes him a letter to stop being so cruel. How does this show Lucetta's inability to think ahead and learn her mistakes?
10. How is the public treating Henchard and Donald after the Royal Personage passes through town? How is this different from earlier times? What does this say about the public?
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Several times throughout the novel, Hardy describes Henchard's dark eyes with a glint of red. Solomon describes Henchard's expression after his wedding as an ambiguous gaze with one moment of satisfaction, another fiery disdain. How do the colors Hardy uses relate to the description of Henchard's gaze? Why does Henchard have such a gaze as he exits the church?
Essay Topic 2
In chapter 25, Michael tells Lucetta, "But it is not by what it is, in this life, but by what appears, that you are judged..." It is evident that Michael lives with a lot of deceit and follows his own advice. Do you agree? Do you disagree? How is his life judged? Do you think the truth ever catches up to the facade?
Essay Topic 3
In chapter 11, Hardy describes The Ring and the Roman past in Casterbridge's history. Hardy details the heavy blood and destructive affairs and that it is no place where happy lovers meet. Hardy also describes the head of Apollo and Diana in Henchard's house. Find the relationship between the historical description of Casterbridge and Henchard's life. Where is Henchard in his life? Is he in his glory days as the times of old gladiators are in The Ring, or is he now a piece of history as an empty stadium that stands alone.
This section contains 1,760 words
(approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page)