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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 do the girls put over Elaine?

2. Does Elaine color differently with her friends than with her brother?

3. Who do the little girls from Elaine's memories remind her of?

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

5. What does Elaine's mother tell her to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Elaine feel when she attributes her feelings to Cordelia, instead of to herself?

2. How does Elaine feel about boys in eleventh grade?

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

4. In the present time what does Elaine think of Toronto?

5. What makes Elaine feel out of place when she first goes to the art exhibit?

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

7. How does Elaine feel about the woman who models for her first nude female drawing?

8. What is Elaine's attitude about sleeping with her ex-husband, Jon?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The characters who hurt each other in the novel are those who are supposed to love each other. Discuss love, friendship, and betrayal in the novel.

1) Do Elaine and Cordelia ever have a friendship? Do they love each other? Why do they hurt each other?

2) Compare Elaine's relationships with Jon, Ben, Stephen, her parents, Cordelia, and Josef. What does love mean for Elaine in these different relationships?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the structure of the book and its use of flashbacks.

1) Why did the author choose this particular present time to anchor the flashbacks?

2) What purpose do the flashbacks serve, and how would this book be different if it were told chronologically?

3) How does the past intrude into the present time for Elaine, and how does that compare to the reader's experience of the flashbacks?

4) Why are the flashbacks presented in the order that they are?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss criticism in the novel.

1) What does criticism of Elaine's art mean to her? How does she relate to the press and others that view and criticize her life and work as an artist?

2) What role does criticism play in Elaine's childhood relationship with Cordelia and her other friends? Where is the line between constructive criticism and abuse?

3) Why does Elaine become critical of others in high school? Why do Elaine and Cordelia spend their time criticizing others?

(see the answer keys)

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