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 part of the narrator's body is bloodied?

2. What does Cordelia do after Elaine is sick from being in the cold water?

3. What did Jon's ex-girlfriend throw at him and Elaine?

4. The narrator thinks of time as having a what?

5. Who does Elaine see on the escalator after she has her drink?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why doesn't Charna want Elaine to be in the gallery when people begin arriving for the art retrospective?

2. How does Elaine feel when she attributes her feelings to Cordelia, instead of to herself?

3. How does the narrator seem to feel about Cordelia during the first chapter of the novel?

4. How does Elaine react to Jon's ex-girlfriend's anger?

5. Throughout the novel, who does Elaine think she sees in crowds or around town?

6. How does Elaine feel about playing with the other girls?

7. How do Elaine's parents feel about Stephen's death?

8. What is Elaine's opinion of Susie, in her art class?

9. What is Elaine's attitude about sleeping with her ex-husband, Jon?

10. Describe Elaine's experience when the girls leave her in the hole.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Secrecy is an important part of Elaine's life. From a young age, she begins to hide her true thoughts from others, and she keeps her feelings inside throughout the novel. Discuss the role of secrecy in the novel.

1) Why does the company of other girls make Elaine begin to hide her thoughts?

2) Why does Elaine envy women who can express rage, like Jon's ex-girlfriend?

3) How does Elaine suppress her feelings and emotions during the book? What other things does she keep secret?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the use of point of view in the book.

1) Why is this book told in the first person, from Elaine's point of view? How would it be different if it were told by a different narrator?

2) Does Elaine provide an accurate account of the world around her? How is her view of the world biased or flawed?

3) What would the reader gain from understanding Cordelia's perspective, or the perspective of another character?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss criticism in the novel.

1) What does criticism of Elaine's art mean to her? How does she relate to the press and others that view and criticize her life and work as an artist?

2) What role does criticism play in Elaine's childhood relationship with Cordelia and her other friends? Where is the line between constructive criticism and abuse?

3) Why does Elaine become critical of others in high school? Why do Elaine and Cordelia spend their time criticizing others?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 718 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample