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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. According to Vanessa on page 368, her dog is just starting to embrace what previously unknown things?

2. How does Taylor react when Vanessa describes her relationship with Strane as the stuff of love stories?

3. What does Strane want to remind Vanessa on page 327?

4. How does Strane describe the allegations against him on page 187?

5. When Vanessa sees Strane on page 274, she must push away thoughts of what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Strane demand of Vanessa following his interaction with Plough?

2. Why does Strane send Vanessa a packet of documents? Of what is he trying to remind her, as he explains on page 327? What does he want to achieve?

3. How does Vanessa’s relationship with Strane change after her graduation from college? To what can the reader attribute such change?

4. Who is Craig, and how does Vanessa meet him? What happens between them?

5. Who is Jo and how does she get her name?

6. Why does Vanessa feel a need to see Strane, as explained on page 267? What does she get from it? How is this adoration function like a drug?

7. Who is Bridget? Describe her relationship with Vanessa.

8. How does Strane describe the student accusing him of assault on page 306?

9. What does Vanessa tell Ruby about the extent of her control over Strane on page 319? What does Ruby say in response?

10. How does Strane die? How does he appear to Vanessa?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the symbol of the strawberry and cream pajamas in My Dark Vanessa. How does it represent Jacob Strane, his relationship with Vanessa, and the themes of the novel as a whole?

Essay Topic 2

Appearances in My Dark Vanessa can be deceiving. How do appearances differ from reality in this novel? Discuss three characters, objects, or situations and how this idea applies to each.

Essay Topic 3

Vanessa finds herself involved in several conflicts over the course of the novel. Choose one instance of internal conflict and one instance of external conflict, and explain how these conflicts have an impact on the novel and on the other characters.

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