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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. Does the narrator think she'd recognize Cordelia today?

2. What shape is the hole Cordelia begins to dig in the back yard?

3. What job does Elaine's father get in Toronto?

4. Why does Elaine think Carol is a sissy?

5. Why does Elaine lie about the number of Valentines she got?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Elaine's attitude toward marriage while she is dating Josef?

2. What does Carol tell all the other children about Elaine?

3. Describe how Stephen dies.

4. How do Elaine's parents feel about Stephen's death?

5. How does Elaine feel when she first meets Cordelia?

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

7. Why is Cordelia in the rest home?

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

9. How does Cordelia act when Elaine's father comes to check on the girls watching the parade?

10. How does Elaine react to Jon's ex-girlfriend's anger?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Elaine is drawn to religion but also rejects it. Discuss the importance and meaning of religion in the novel.

1) What is Grace's mother's attitude to religion? How do her values affect her children?

2) Why does Elaine choose hell over forgiving Grace's mother? How does she perceive God? Why does she seek out different churches as an adult?

3) Why does Elaine embrace the Virgin Mary as an alternative to God? What does the Virgin Mary that Elaine visits in Mexico mean to her?

4) What is the meaning of Elaine's vision of the Virgin Mary when she is in the icy ravine?

Essay Topic 2

There are many instances of theft and begging in the novel. Discuss the significance of theft and begging to the novel.

1) Why does Elaine think of Cordelia when someone tries to steal her wallet? In what way has Cordelia stolen from her?

2) Why does Elaine always give to people who beg from her? Why does Elaine think one woman who comes to beg from her might be Cordelia?

3) Who has stolen or taken (emotionally) from Elaine during her life? Is Elaine partially responsible for these instances?

Essay Topic 3

Emotional pain in the novel is often linked to physical pain. Discuss the relationship of physical and emotional pain in the novel.

1) Why does Elaine injure her fingers and feet? How is her physical pain linked to emotional pain?

2) Discuss Elaine's experience of physical and emotional pain in times of crisis, such as when she is trapped in the ravine and when she is left in the dark hole.

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