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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. In addition to earning a law degree, Jude earns a degree in what other field?

2. In what month do Harold and Julia adopt Jude?

3. To what career does Malcolm aspire in college?

4. Who is Felix?

5. In what city do the novel's characters attend college?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss a time when Yanigihara uses a metaphor to represent some aspect of friendship.

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

3. Characterize Willem's relationship with his parents prior to their deaths.

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

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

6. Who is JB and how does he enter the story?

7. Who is Felix and what is significant about his emotional breakdown?

8. In what way is the theme of acquiescence included in the first part of A Little Life?

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

10. In what way is foreshadowing included in relation to Jude's future?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Trace the characterization arc of Jude’s character throughout the novel A Little Life. Discuss whether Jude is a round or flat character and whether Jude is a static or dynamic character.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze Yanagihara’s novel from an Existential perspective. What elements of life does it suggest hold the most meaning and why?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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