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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 was the name of the heroine of the moment?

2. What was the cost of the Matisse painting of the woman and the dog?

3. What was the name of the street where the Steins had an apartment?

4. What item did Picasso withhold from his wife?

5. What is a chronic problem in Paris?

Short Essay Questions

1. What newspapers did Stein regularly read and why?

2. Why was Gertrude grateful to have failed to receive her degree from Johns Hopkins?

3. How does Gertrude Stein discover the works of Cézanne?

4. What was one of the reasons Alice cannot understand Gertrude's insistence upon remaining connected to Allegheny, Pennsylvania?

5. Why did Harry Gibb push Stein to publish a big book that people could sink their teeth into?

6. Why did William Cook's father refuse to believe there was war?

7. When Alice first goes to the starting this apartment, she is introduced to Helene, the Stein's housekeeper. What are Alice's impressions of Helene?

8. Why was it difficult for the Picassos to decide where their son would be baptized?

9. What is Gertrude Stein's brother's theory about the masking of unemployment in Paris?

10. What possessions of Mrs. Stein's were of great fascination to Alice? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although a great deal of the story is about Stein rather than Toklas, there is never a solid mention of Stein's nuclear family regarding the number of siblings. Why would the author overlook an important part of the writer's childhood and family structure? How did the oversight affect the story?

Essay Topic 2

Stein and Fitzgerald had a peculiar relationship. Stein often complimented Fitzgerald on his work, particularly the books "The Great Gatsby" and "This Side of Paradise." Fitzgerald did not receive the compliments well and often became angry. Explain Fitzgerald's behavior and how it affected his relationship with Stein.

Essay Topic 3

One of the techniques used in the book is the flashback. Cite five examples of a flashback and the relevance of each to the story. Explain how the use of flashback may have hindered the story in the mind of the reader. Also explain why Stein felt that it was necessary to use the flashback method.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 667 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample