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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 what year of college is Willem enrolled when Hemming undergoes surgery?

2. Who insists that Willem cannot just stop talking to his parents?

3. In Part II: Lispenard Street, what decade of life has Willem recently entered?

4. With what type of event do Harold, Julia, Jude, and their friends celebrate Judes' adoption?

5. Prior to Jude's adoption by Harold and Julia, how many other families had previously shown interest in adopting Jude?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What two elements of Willem's life in Wyoming does he miss?

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

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

7. In what way is the theme of isolation depicted within Chapter 1 of Part II: The Postman?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss how and why Yanagihara instills three different humanist messages into the narrative of A Little Life.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Determine Yanagihara’s message within the novel A Little Life regarding the idea that euthanasia should be an option available for people who truly wish to end their lives.

(see the answer keys)

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