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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. Why does Carriscant need Kay's assistance?

2. What happens when Carriscant crosses a field on his way home?

3. What does Cruz commonly practice in his professional work?

4. Whom does Carriscant think about when he returns home?

5. How does the buyer seem to feel about Kay's house?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Meyersen say about Kay's home and career and how does it affect Kay?

2. How does Kay conduct her investigation of Carriscant?

3. Who is Coleman Brockway and how did he die?

4. What does Carriscant say when he elaborates on his past while he and Kay are flying?

5. What does Carriscant learn about the photograph of the woman and what does he want to do?

6. What does Kay learn about the buyer of her home?

7. What do Quiroga and Carriscant do for a Chinese boy?

8. What does Carriscant say about his parentage?

9. Why does Kay visit Philip and what happens and what does she think about her and Philip?

10. Why does Kay take her mother to an out-of-the-way restaurant?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Blue Afternoon belongs to the novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a novel and a history book?

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Carriscant and Cruz. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Kay and Annaliese. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in The Blue Afternoon help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

Essay Topic 3

1. What is foreshadowing? How many incidences of foreshadowing are in The Blue Afternoon? How does foreshadowing contribute to a book's suspense?

2. Discuss an example of foreshadowing in The Blue Afternoon including why you believe it is foreshadowing. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from The Blue Afternoon and your own live to support your opinion.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 939 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample