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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 is outlawed by the Studio?

2. Who raises Norma Jeane for most of her childhood?

3. Where does Norma Jeane go on her own after school sometimes?

4. Who is Mitchum?

5. Who beats their wife?

Short Essay Questions

1. What class does Norma Jeane take at UCLA?

2. What are Norma Jeane's religious beliefs?

3. Why does Richard Widmark complain about Norma Jeane?

4. What does Dr. Mittelstadt promise Norma Jeane in "The Curse"?

5. Where does Gladys live beginning in her mid-thirties?

6. Who is Gladys?

7. Who is Dr. Mittelstadt?

8. When does Norma Jeane get her period?

9. Why does Norma Jeane drop out of her class at UCLA?

10. Who does Norma Jeane run into at the Agency in "For Hire"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay exploring the title of the novel. What does Blonde represent?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay exploring the novel's depiction of the character of Marilyn Monroe. According to Oates, who was Marilyn Monroe? Within the context of the Hollywood system, why was she created? What was her impact?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay exploring Norma Jeane/Marilyn Monroe's understanding and relationship to her own sexuality. In what ways does it change or develop through the narrative?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 433 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample