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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. Once Connell has been with Helen for a while, he decides that Marianne is different from him in what major way?

2. For what sole purpose has Connell entered the church in the past?

3. Marianne tells Connell that she hopes that the two of them will always do what for each other?

4. Which year of college does Marianne spend studying abroad?

5. Marianne confesses to Connell that Jamie is a what?

Short Essay Questions

1. For what reason does Connell procrastinate when enacting his back-up plan for summer housing?

2. What simile does Rooney use to describe Connell's feelings about writing and why?

3. What is ironic about the impression Connell has of Alan?

4. What does Connell find troubling about the financial arrangements among Marianne, Lorraine, and himself?

5. How does Connell come to rely on Marianne in college?

6. Who is Helen?

7. What plans does Marianne make for her third year of college?

8. How are the issues of privilege and class differences depicted within Peggy's experiences?

9. How do Connell and Marianne come to meet up in Europe during the summer of 2013?

10. What does it mean to Marianne when she wins the full scholarship to graduate school, according to Connell?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the function of Jamie's character within the novel? Discuss the characterization methods used by Rooney in depicting Jamie and include in your discussion the reasons that Rooney portrays Jamie in these particular ways.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Rooney's choice to tell the story of Normal People using a third person omniscient narrator. What elements of the novel's themes lend themselves to this choice and what are Rooney’s intended effects on the reader?

Essay Topic 3

Write a critical essay about Normal People while using the critical power theory lens of feminist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the novel's treatment of gender roles, the objectification of women, female empowerment, misogyny's role within society, or any other issues related to feminist theory that can be found in the novel.

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This section contains 950 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample