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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. "Dear Little Brother" is intended to act as an important display of what emotion, according to the memoirist?

2. At times when Matt found himself with few friendships, he found solace in what objects?

3. How did Matt reply when he was asked by a college friend whether he was gay or not?

4. Matt states that the recent birth of whose first son has affected his life and the life of the baby's father?

5. Who was in the room sleeping when Matt was molested by his cousin?

Short Essay Questions

1. Which aspect of Matt's abusive cousin's personality does Matt find ironic and why?

2. How did Matt's expectations of college differ from the reality in terms of his own sexual identity?

3. What is the symbolism of the girdle described in Chapter 10, "A Lesson Before Dying"?

4. Discuss a moment in the text when Matt depicts qualities of his own physicality.

5. To which person does the title of Chapter 8, "Daddy's Second Chance" refer, besides of course Daddy?

6. What main trait does Matt attribute to his cousin Hope and why?

7. What simple sign of affection shocked Matt when it came from his father while Matt was in his early 20s?

8. Describe the stated goals of the piece entitled "Dear Little Brother" that begins Act Two: Family.

9. In what way and for what purpose does Matt employ the literary device of repetition within Chapter 11, entitled "Boys Will Be Boys"?

10. What kind of business did Nanny help Matt to start, as described in Chapter 7, "Nanny: the Caregiver, the Hustler, My Best Friend"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What ultimate message is Johnson sending about the mythical qualities of the United States?

Essay Topic 2

How are the themes of eccentricity and conformity depicted within Johnson’s All Boys Aren't Blue?

Essay Topic 3

Examine Johnson’s use of characterization methods to portray himself within the narrative. What effects do these characterization methods have on the themes and messages inherent in All Boys Aren't Blue?

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