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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. What article does Uncle Dan try to read?

2. Where is Van and Ada's first sexual encounter?

3. What does Bout comment is covered in dust?

4. What figures are prominent in Ada's early memories of learning about male anatomy and sex?

5. What does Ada say about the roses Percy gives her?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Van first see Ada?

2. How does Dick cheat at cards, and how does Van best him?

3. What happens in Van's stage act?

4. How does Van feel about Cordula?

5. How does Ada act when she tells stories at the table?

6. How does Van feel about Marina?

7. How does Lucette want to draw flowers, when her sister is trying to teach her to draw?

8. What bad habit does Ana stop on her twelfth birthday?

9. What reason does Van give Marina for leaving?

10. What do Demon think of Marina's career as an actress?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The central story of the novel is focused on the incestuous relationship between Ada and Van. Discuss incest in the novel.

1) What are Van and Ada's attitudes toward incest? The implication is that even as children, they know they are brother and sister. Do they hide this knowledge from themselves? Do they accept it?

2) Why do Ada and Van change their mind about living together when Demon finds out? Are their self-perceptions changed by Demon's admission of their relationship as siblings? Are their actions driven by Demon's open knowledge of the secret? What are the societal attitudes involved?

3) Why does Van tell Lucette he doesn't want another incestuous relationship with her? What is different about a relationship with Lucette, as opposed to any other unrelated woman?

Essay Topic 2

Van has a privileged life. Discuss privilege in the novel.

1) What freedoms does Van's wealth and status allow him? How would his life be different if he weren't wealthy?

2) How is it significant that Van has an independent inheritance from Aqua and is not dependent on Demon for money?

3) What is Van's perception of his position of privilege, and how does this perception change throughout his life, from youth to old age?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss vanity in the novel.

1) Van is described in the novel as vain. Does Van love himself more than any other? Is he proud? What characterizes his vanity?

2) Is Van's vanity an essential element of his attraction to Ada? Is he attracted to her because of her similarities to himself?

3) What role does Van's vanity play in his career? How does it relate to his acrobatic show? How does it relate to his psychological/philosophical books?

(see the answer keys)

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