"The Way We Live Now" Quiz
"The Way We Live Now" satirizes the greed, corruption, and social ambition of Victorian England through the rise and fall of a fraudulent financier, Augustus Melmotte.
classics | 752 pages | Published in 1875
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Test your knowledge about the book "The Way We Live Now". We have come up with 10 quiz questions for the book. Hit play and start testing your knowledge. Each correctly answered question gives one point.
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Essay questions
These essay questions are meant to be used as a starting point for your essay or research paper.
- Discuss the role of financial speculation in 'The Way We Live Now.' How does Trollope use the character of Augustus Melmotte to critique Victorian society's attitudes toward wealth and morality?
- Analyze the portrayal of women in the novel, focusing on characters such as Marie Melmotte, Lady Carbury, and Hetta Carbury. What do their experiences reveal about gender roles and expectations in Victorian England?
- Examine Trollope's use of satire in 'The Way We Live Now.' Which aspects of society does he most effectively satirize, and to what effect?
- How does the theme of social mobility manifest in the novel? Consider the ambitions and limitations faced by various characters.
- In what ways does Trollope depict the relationship between old money (aristocracy) and new money (financial speculators)? Assess the tensions and interactions between these groups.
- Evaluate the significance of marriage and courtship within the novel. How do economic considerations shape romantic relationships among the characters?
- What is the function of journalism and the press in 'The Way We Live Now'? Consider the character of Lady Carbury and the depiction of media ethics.
- Discuss the concept of honor and reputation in the novel. How do different characters define and pursue respectability?
- Consider Trollope’s narrative technique in the novel. How does his use of multiple perspectives influence the reader's understanding of events and characters?
- Analyze the downfall of Augustus Melmotte. To what extent is his fate inevitable, given the moral and social environment depicted in the novel?
- How does Trollope use secondary characters, such as Paul Montague or Felix Carbury, to comment on the larger themes of the novel?
- Discuss the significance of the title, 'The Way We Live Now.' In what ways does the novel serve as a commentary on its contemporary society, and does it have relevance for modern readers?
- Examine the role of deceit and self-delusion in the novel. How do these qualities contribute to both individual and societal downfall?
- Compare and contrast the character arcs of Marie Melmotte and Hetta Carbury. How do their choices reflect their values and circumstances?
- Evaluate the ending of the novel. Does Trollope offer a clear moral resolution, or does he leave the reader with ambiguity regarding the fate of society?
