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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Stein and Toklas decided to settle down temporarily, in what location?

2. Why was Gertrude going to travel to London in the summer?

3. Where was Stein's first European residence?

4. Who was forced to leave the Stein apartment at the insistence of a spouse?

5. Who refused to believe that there was going to be a war?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Patriotism is one of the main topics in the Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas. Although Stein, Toklas and many of the other characters in the story were expatriates, they managed to maintain their patriotism toward their native lands. Explain how a person could be a patriotic expatriate. Is it possible to be both or it is hypocritical?

Essay Topic 2

It is well known that Stein and Toklas were lovers and were possibly secretly married in 1908. The lifestyle of the couple was such that the unusual living arrangement was never questioned by the couple's friends. Why was the subject not openly discussed in the book? How do you think Stein's and Toklas' families reacted to their marriage?

Essay Topic 3

Stein is very good at characterization of the main group of visitors to the Paris salon. Choose one of the following characters and explain how the descriptions in the book enhance the reader's image of the character.

1. Pablo Picasso

2. Gertrude Stein

3. Alice B. Toklas

4. Henri Matisse

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 262 words (approx. 1 page at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample