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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 town is Roy from?

2. Who does Roy say he has discovered to be his biological father in a letter to Celestial in Part One: "Bridge Music"?

3. What color ribbons were tied on trees to recognized those lost or killed due to the serial killer in Atlanta in the 1970s?

4. In a letter to Celestial in Part One: "Bridge Music," Roy tells his wife all the things he misses about her. What does he say he misses most?

5. What is the name of Celestial's father?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where did Roy study? What career does he set out on after college?

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

3. When and where did Andre introduce Roy to Celestial? What became of it?

4. What does an epistolary novel refer to? What are the benefits of epistolary style?

5. How does Roy describe Walter when he first becomes his cell mate?

6. How does Andre describe his feelings for Celestial in high school?

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

8. Who is Sylvia? What role does she play in the narrative in Part One: "Bridge Music"?

9. Why does Roy write to Mr. Banks in Part One: "Bridge Music"? What does Mr. Banks reply?

10. How does Roy respond to Celestial's "Dear John" letter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the element of setting in An American Marriage. Why is the setting of this story important? Could this novel take place anywhere else? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Celestial's "Dear John" letter to Roy. Why do you think Celestial did not tell Roy face-to-face that she wanted a divorce? Would her character be more empathetic if she had done so? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the legal aspects of An American Marriage. Under what circumstances is Roy found guilty? What evidence is presented at Roy's trial? How does Roy go about winning his appeal?

(see the answer keys)

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