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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 does Elaine buy for the art exhibit?

2. Who would the narrator and Cordelia analyze on the streetcars?

3. Who does Elaine see on the escalator after she has her drink?

4. How does Elaine feel about the boys?

5. Does Elaine know the Santa Claus in the parade is not the real Santa?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Josef react to Susie's injury?

2. What do Elaine and Cordelia do at lunch time, when they first go to high school together?

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

4. How does Elaine feel when she visits the new school?

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

6. How and why do Elaine's feelings for Mrs. Smeath change?

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

8. How does Elaine think of killing herself?

9. What gives Elaine a reprieve from the other girls' tormenting?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Discuss Elaine's feelings toward Cordelia.

1) Why does Elaine always think she sees Cordelia, wherever she goes?

2) How is the reality of meeting Cordelia different from Elaine's fantasies about meeting Cordelia, and why?

3) Does Elaine have a realistic idea of what Cordelia is like? In what ways is Elaine's perception of Cordelia flawed, and in what ways is it accurate?

4) What are Elaine's positive and negative feelings toward Cordelia? Are the two women friends? Have they ever been friends?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the trauma left by Elaine's abuse as a child.

1) How do Elaine's memories impact her life at the time of the retrospective? How do they impact her art and her perception of the world?

2) In what ways is Elaine trapped by the past? Why does she badly want an explanation from Cordelia?

3) Can Elaine be free of trauma from her past abuse? Is she free at the end of the book? How might her life change?

(see the answer keys)

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