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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. How do Macon and Sarah meet?

2. What sound should Macon make when Edward does something positive?

3. According to Sarah, Macon is _______________.

4. What does Macon wear to bed?

5. According to Garner, what is the perception people have of Macon?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Macon brings his note of apology to Muriel and breaks down at her door, what is her response and why is it significant?

2. Why do the Learys disapprove of Macon's relationship with Muriel?

3. What does Julian offer to Macon when he comes over in Chapter 6?

4. According to Muriel, how did the birth of her son, Alexander, impact her marriage?

5. In Philadelphia, what does Porter's daughter, Susan, tell Macon about Ethan?

6. What realization does Macon come to in Paris?

7. Why is Macon disappointed when he disembarks from his flight from London and returns home?

8. What are Macon's and Sarah's reactions to the stormy weather and why are they significant?

9. On Christmas, what does Muriel's mother, Mrs. Dugan, tell Macon about her daughter?

10. In the car, how are Macon and Sarah's physical appearance symbolic of the state of their marriage?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tyler utilizes the third-person point of view in the novel to show Macon's thoughts, motives, and actions. Why do you think she uses "he" and "she" instead of "I." How would the novel be different if Macon was narrating it? Would we learn more or less from a first-person perspective?

Essay Topic 2

Macon's inability to communicate presents major difficulties for him. Discuss the psychological reasons behind his withdrawal from those around him, and the ramifications of his actions, beginning with his marriage to Sarah to the present day.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Macon's trips to various cities in the novel. Does his attitude toward travel change over the course of the novel? What significant events occur while he's away from home? Which trips are the most significant for his personal journey?

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