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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 many years older than his late younger sister was Noah?

2. In what room in the house does Noah keep the last few boxes of his late sister's belongings?

3. When Rosa calls to talk to Michael in Chapter III: Takeoff Speed, it is revealed that Rosa is the social worker for how many children?

4. What is the name of Michael's disabled uncle who is living in Queens with friends?

5. What was Fernande's husband's name?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way was Noah's mother Margot involved in her father Pere Sonne's photography career?

2. Describe the photographs that are included alongside the novel's epigraph.

3. To what phone call does the title of Chapter I: The Call refer?

4. For what reason does Rosa enter Noah's New York City apartment in Chapter II: Twenty Questions?

5. Discuss the possible significance of the novel's epigraph and name two themes that appear within its content.

6. How did Noah's wife Joan feel about traveling during her life?

7. In what way does Chapter I: The Call end on a hopeful note concerning Michael and Noah?

8. For how many years has Noah been alone since losing his wife Joan and in what way does her presence still resonate with him?

9. What does the landline phone symbolize within Chapter I: The Call?

10. Which photograph within the biography puts off a distinct sense of danger and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Perform a biographical criticism of Akin by researching Donoghue's life and work. Be sure to create a strong and specific claim focused on this particular book and then support that claim with quotes from the book and from your research of Donoghue.

Essay Topic 2

Examine the roles of Victor, Amber, and Michael within the text of Akin. How does Donoghue use each character’s depiction in order to highlight themes depicted within the overall narrative?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss how and why Donoghue instills three different humanist messages into the narrative of Akin.

(see the answer keys)

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