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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. Who is Ana?

2. After what event does Willem decide that he will never go home again?

3. Before any guests arrive to Jude and Willem's party, what action does Jude take?

4. What behavior did Jude begin to exhibit after he began to be sexually molested by a priest from whom he had stolen a lighter?

5. While Willem asserts that his parents had been "efficient and competent with Hemming," (53) but had not shown Hemming much of which emotion?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Yanigihara want the reader to view Jude's decision to keep his past a secret and how do you know?

2. In what ways does Jude feel out-of-step with the rest of his peers' experiences?

3. How does the theme of courage intertwine with the theme of secrecy within Jude's character?

4. In what way are the themes of secrecy and control depicted in Part II: The Postman?

5. What impetus prompts Malcolm to come out to his parents?

6. What do the coupons in the novel symbolize?

7. What is the occasion of the opening scene in A Little Life?

8. In what way does the narration of Part I: Lispenard Street differ from the narration of Part II: The Postman?

9. What is the significance of the title for Part II, "The Postman" (210)?

10. What happens to necessitate the use of the fire escape?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a critical essay about A Little Life while using the critical power theory lens of Marxist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the novel's treatment of issues such as socioeconomic status, hierarchies, wealth, class, or any other issues related to Marxist theory that can be found in the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Yanagihara’s use of metaphor, simile, imagery, and other literary devices as a means to send particular thematic messages within the narrative of A Little Life.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the instances of irony within the narrative of A Little Life and analyze Yanagihara’s purpose for including each instance you discuss.

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