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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. In the present time, where does the narrator look as she walks down the street?

2. What did Jon's ex-girlfriend throw at him and Elaine?

3. During the Christmas parade, what does Cordelia scold Elaine for after her father leaves?

4. What does Elaine stop to eat downtown at the beginning of Chapter 7?

5. How does Mrs. Smeath characterize the children's mistreatment of Elaine?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Elaine react whenever someone asks her for money?

2. While Elaine is dating both Josef and Jon, how does she feel about the two men?

3. What does Elaine think of Ben when she first meets him?

4. What lie does Elaine tell to cover her suicide attempt, and why?

5. What is the major element of her life that Elaine comes to terms with at the end of the novel?

6. Why doesn't Jon want to come to Elaine's art show?

7. What is the result of Elaine's mother's miscarriage?

8. Describe how Elaine and Cordelia are different in biology class.

9. Why doesn't Charna want Elaine to be in the gallery when people begin arriving for the art retrospective?

10. How does Elaine's mother greet her after she comes out of the cold water?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Elaine thinks about suicide and also tries to kill herself in the novel, just as Cordelia tries to kill herself. Discuss the role of suicide in the novel.

1) How do Elaine's thoughts of suicide when she is a young girl affect her? Where do they come from?

2) Why does Elaine try to kill herself when she's married to Jon? Why does she lie about her suicide attempt?

3) Why does Cordelia try to kill herself? Compare Cordelia's suicide attempt to Elaine's suicide attempt.

Essay Topic 2

Elaine often feels herself growing stronger or weaker, empowered or powerless. Discuss the importance of power in the novel.

1) When is Elaine powerful, and when does she feel powerless? What gives Elaine power in the course of the novel?

2) How do Elaine and Cordelia use power over others?

3) What power does Elaine's art give her? Does Elaine recognize the power of her art?

Essay Topic 3

Elaine's relationship with Stephen is an important aspect of her life. Discuss the role of Stephen in the novel.

1) What role does Stephen play in Elaine's childhood? How does growing up with a brother affect Elaine's perception of men and women?

2) What role do Stephen's ideas about time and physics play in Elaine's life and artwork?

3) How does Stephen's death affect Elaine and her family?

(see the answer keys)

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