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 Arun find in the woods?

2. What is Mr. Patton doing as Arun arrives at the home?

3. What does Arun not have the heart to tell Mrs. Patton?

4. What does Arun have difficulty comprehending?

5. About what does Arun wonder if he and Melanie have the same reaction?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Arun go with Mrs. Patton and Melanie to the swim hole even though he does not wish to do so?

2. How does Arun feel when he finds Mrs. Patton sunbathing one day?

3. What does Mrs. Joshi suggest that Uma consider, and what are Uma's thoughts about it?

4. What happens one particularly hot and dusty day with Uma?

5. What is Arun's reaction to his first trip to the grocery store with Mrs. Patton?

6. What does Mrs. Patton encourage Arun to cook?

7. What does Arun think upon walking to the Patton house for the first time?

8. What does Uma say about Mira-Masi?

9. Why is Mama suspicious of Mrs. O'Henry's motives in inviting Uma?

10. How does Uma seem different from the other guests at Mrs. O’Henry’s?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

a) Who is/are the protagonists of Fasting, Feasting, and how do you determine this?

b) Who is/are the antagonists of Fasting, Feasting, and how do you determine this?

c) Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot of Fasting, Feasting?

d) Are any of the characters in Fasting, Feasting dispensable? If so, which ones? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Although Arun is Papa's favorite child, and the one on whom much effort and expense are expended, Arun does not understand this favorable position and does not extract any joy from it. Although Uma loves Arun, she cannot help but feel some jealousy and irritation at Arun's advantages and his resulting lack of enthusiasm.

a) Do you think Arun might become a feminist? Why or why not? Use examples from the story to support your answer.

b) Do you think it is advantageous to Arun to be his father’s favorite child? Why or why not?

c) Discuss the reasons it might seem natural for Uma to have some jealousy and irritation towards her brother.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

a) Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

b) What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Fasting, Feasting and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Fasting, Feasting is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

c) Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,005 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample