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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 former occupation of gallery owner, Sagot?

2. The brother of what famous dancer rented an atelier in the rue de Fleurus?

3. Gertrude Stein's brother discovered what unknown artist at Sagot's gallery?

4. At what age did Alice stop practicing her music?

5. What was Alice's great passion?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What newspapers did Stein regularly read and why?

3. Describe Gertrude Stein's afternoon ritual.

4. What most impressed Alice about her first meeting with Gertrude Stein in Paris?

5. Why was Mildred Aldrich pleased by Gertrude Stein's success in England?

6. What inspired Picasso to devote himself to Cubism?

7. How had Matisse's life changed since he arrived in Paris?

8. Gertrude Stein left California when she was 17-years-old. The author describes the writer as having a drastic change of lifestyle when she moved to the East Coast. What was the main change in Gertrude's life at that time?

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

10. How did Alice come to meet Gertrude Stein's brother and sister-in-law?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Much of the book details the relationships between Stein and a lengthy cast of characters. Most of the characters are famous painters and authors although many are academics, friends and relatives that bear little impact on the story as a whole. Why were these people included in the book? Do you feel that the inclusion helped or hindered the picture Stein was trying to paint of life in Paris?

Essay Topic 2

Stein's first vehicle could be used as a metaphor in the story. At the time, the war was preparing to erupt and it was important to be able to preserve one's freedom. Explain how the car symbolized freedom.

Essay Topic 3

Of the people that visited the Paris salon, a great number of them were German or Hungarian. The Hungarians in particular were mad for Stein, her work and her company. What caused the Hungarians to worship Stein? How was Stein's work received in Hungary? How did the Germans view Stein's work?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 639 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample