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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who finds Elaine after her suicide attempt?

2. How would Elaine feel if her daughters were with someone like Josef or Jon?

3. How does Cordelia feel when Elaine insults her?

4. What makes boys feel uneasy with Cordelia?

5. How does Elaine think Jon will react to her pregnancy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the portrayal of men in the book.

1) How are Elaine's lovers, Josef, Jon, and Ben, portrayed in the book? What is Elaine's attitude toward her lovers?

2) How do Elaine's relationships with men differ from her relationships with women? Why is Elaine more comfortable with men than with women?

3) How is Elaine's father portrayed in the book? How is her brother portrayed? How do her relationships with her father and brother affect her relationships with other men?

Essay Topic 2

Elaine thinks about suicide and also tries to kill herself in the novel, just as Cordelia tries to kill herself. Discuss the role of suicide in the novel.

1) How do Elaine's thoughts of suicide when she is a young girl affect her? Where do they come from?

2) Why does Elaine try to kill herself when she's married to Jon? Why does she lie about her suicide attempt?

3) Why does Cordelia try to kill herself? Compare Cordelia's suicide attempt to Elaine's suicide attempt.

Essay Topic 3

Elaine often feels herself growing stronger or weaker, empowered or powerless. Discuss the importance of power in the novel.

1) When is Elaine powerful, and when does she feel powerless? What gives Elaine power in the course of the novel?

2) How do Elaine and Cordelia use power over others?

3) What power does Elaine's art give her? Does Elaine recognize the power of her art?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 347 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample