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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What gift did the author's mother give to Joan immediately after Bruce's funeral?

2. Who is the author of the novel Maurice that is alluded to in Chapter 3?

3. What is the name of Alison Bechdel's mother?

4. How long prior to his death did Bruce Bechdel's wife ask him for a divorce?

5. The author says in Chapter 3, "Dad was passionate about many writers, but he had a particular reverence for" whom?

Short Essay Questions

1. How and why does the author allude to It's a Wonderful Life in Chapter 1?

2. What literary allusion is tied to lilacs in Chapter 4?

3. What does the title of Chapter 3, "That Old Catastrophe" allude to? Why is this significant?

4. From what narrative perspective is Fun Home related? Why do you think the author chose this perspective?

5. What literary allusions does the author make in describing her mother in Chapter 3?

6. How does the author describe her impressions of her father's death in Chapter 2?

7. What symbolism does the author illuminate in her father's library in Chapter 3?

8. How does the author compare herself with her father in Chapter 1?

9. How would you describe the language style of Fun Home?

10. How does the author describe her family's trip to Europe in Chapter 3?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the genre and format of Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. Is the book fiction or nonfiction? Under what sub-genres is the book categorized? What is noteworthy about the book's genre and format?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the community where the author grew up. How large was Bechdel's hometown? Where geographically is it located? What is the topography like in the region? How would you describe the community atmosphere?

Essay Topic 3

What major facts does the author establish in the beginning of the narrative? How does she establish the setting and relationships within her family? How are these important plot points revealed to the reader?

(see the answer keys)

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