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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 has Eleanor learned is something to worry about?

2. Who does Eleanor say is the man who will change her life?

3. At Sammy’s funeral, what does Eleanor wonder if he might be wearing?

4. What type of flowers does Raymond bring Eleanor?

5. What does Raymond tell Eleanor was the cause of Sammy’s death?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Eleanor remember about Marianne, while she is talking with Raymond in the cafe?

2. Why does Eleanor decide to tell Raymond about Marianne and the fire?

3. What does Eleanor say about therapy and her healing at the end of the novel?

4. What does Eleanor realize when observing the man on the bus who is not wearing socks?

5. What does Eleanor say she is ready to do the day of the big concert?

6. What does Raymond ask Eleanor right before they part ways at the end of the novel, and what does this suggest about his feelings for Eleanor?

7. How does Eleanor first react to her therapist, Maria Temple, and does her reaction change?

8. How does Eleanor react to hearing Maria say that all people have emotional needs that must be met?

9. What does Eleanor discover about her mother and why is this news important?

10. What does Raymond bring Eleanor as a “surprise” and how does Eleanor react?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing how the author uses characters and behaviors to develop and strengthen the theme of loneliness.

Essay Topic 2

In therapy, Eleanor learns that all children (and people) have emotional needs. Analyze what specific emotional needs Eleanor did not have met by her mother and describe the various ways Eleanor tried to cover those innate emotional needs.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay explaining the significance of the title of the novel. How does the title support the overall narrative tone and theme of emotional healing from mental illness?

(see the answer keys)

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