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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 kind of tree did Andre's father plant to celebrate Andre's birth?

2. What is Andre's mother's name?

3. What does Walter give Roy instead of money, according to Roy's letter to Celestial in Part One: "Bridge Music"?

4. What are the dorms named after at the prison where Roy is held?

5. What are the dolls that Celestial makes called?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Celestial's baby doll in the prison outfit symbolize?

2. How would you characterize the early letters between Roy and Celestial in Part One: "Bridge Music"?

3. What happened on Roy and Celestial's first anniversary?

4. Why does Roy write to "Mr. D" in Part One: "Bridge Music"?

5. Why do you think the author gives Andre his own first-person narrative?

6. What is Mr. D's response to Roy's letter in Part One: "Bridge Music"?

7. How do Andre and Celestial feel about Roy's impending release when they learn of it?

8. How does Mr. Davenport respond when Andre announces his engagement to Celestial?

9. How does Celestial respond to Andre's proposal?

10. How does Andre propose to Celestial?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and analyze the character of Davina Hardrick in the novel. Where does Davina know Roy from? How do they reconnect? In what ways is Davina's character a foil to Celestial? Is Davina a protagonist or antagonist--or neither?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of fatherhood in An American Marriage. How does the author develop this theme through character? How is the theme developed through symbolism and setting? What does fatherhood mean to the characters in this novel?

Essay Topic 3

Outline and discuss the plot structure of An American Marriage. Where in the novel do the following occur: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement? How does the novel progress chronologically? Does the author make use of flashbacks or flash-forwards?

(see the answer keys)

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