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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Jon call Elaine?

2. Who does Elaine think the angry woman is at first?

3. Where did Elaine see a beautiful and meaningful Virgin Mary statue?

4. Where does Elaine go to meet her ex-husband?

5. Who do Cordelia and Elaine make a game of making fun of in tenth grade?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Elaine believes that she's good at leaving. Discuss the role of leaving in the novel.

1) How does Elaine separate herself from Cordelia and her other friends? What does leaving the situation involve, emotionally, for Elaine?

2) How and why does Elaine leave Josef and Jon? Compare Elaine's acts of leaving her lovers with leaving her former friends.

3) What other things does Elaine leave behind in the novel? When she leaves something behind, what parts of it does she still carry with her? Is leaving a good thing?

Essay Topic 3

Secrecy is an important part of Elaine's life. From a young age, she begins to hide her true thoughts from others, and she keeps her feelings inside throughout the novel. Discuss the role of secrecy in the novel.

1) Why does the company of other girls make Elaine begin to hide her thoughts?

2) Why does Elaine envy women who can express rage, like Jon's ex-girlfriend?

3) How does Elaine suppress her feelings and emotions during the book? What other things does she keep secret?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 332 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample