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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. Who is Adele?

2. When did Lillian have her first stroke?

3. This section is told from _________________ point of view.

4. Who is Ann's father?

5. What does Adele force Ann to do on Christmas Day?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Ann try to act like the adult in the relationship with her mother?

2. How do Lillian and Art start out their married life?

3. Who is Art and how does Lillian's relationship with him negatively impact her life?

4. What do Adele and Ann do upon their arrival in Los Angeles?

5. Who is Lillian and what is her relationship with her aunts?

6. What is significant about the vacation Carol and Adele spend on Mackinac Island?

7. Explain how Adele has delusions of grandeur, particularly regarding Lonnie Tishman.

8. How did Lillian's mother show inappropriate behavior toward Lillian's brother, Milton?

9. How are the Swans' lives comparable to Adele and Ann's life, even though the Swans live in an expensive home in an exclusive are of Los Angeles?

10. How does Adele pay for the trip to California?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the role of women in America in the 1990s when the women in the novel are living their lives. What precedents do they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do they have? What freedoms did they have that 21st century women do not?

Essay Topic 2

Create a character study of Adele. What are her physical characteristics? What are her motivations? What are her fears? What are her dreams? What else can you say about Adele?

Essay Topic 3

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of disappointment. Identify at least two characters who either embody or experience disappointment then cite an example to support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,132 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample