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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. Where is Melanie when Arun leaves the Patton household at the end of the book?

2. Why does Arun go with Mrs. Patton and Melanie even though he does not want to do so?

3. What does Arun not have the heart to tell Mrs. Patton?

4. How do the other guests act about the food Mrs. O'Henry serves?

5. What annoys Mr. Patton about Rod and Melanie?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Anamika's husband say about her death, and how do the neighbors contradict him?

2. What is Arun's reaction to his first trip to the grocery store with Mrs. Patton?

3. What does Arun think upon walking to the Patton house for the first time?

4. How has Mrs. Patton changed over the course of the summer?

5. How does Arun feel about his life in the United States?

6. What does Uma say about Mira-Masi?

7. What does Arun discover when he takes a walk into the woods?

8. What were Mama's and Papa's jobs concerning their children?

9. How does the cashier at the grocery store upset Mrs. Patton and what does she ask Arun concerning the situation?

10. What does Arun try to get the courage to tell Mrs. Patton?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Chapters 1 and 2 define the plight of female children born in India. Families desire male children to continue the family line and do not attempt to conceal their delight when a boy child is born, as in the case with Arun. Female children are raised without the benefit of much, if any, education until they become of age and can leave home in arranged marriages. Uma's disappointment at having to leave the convent school is heightened when Papa does not intervene and save Uma from a fate of domesticity.

a) Discuss the ways in which Uma’s life was affected by being born female in Fasting, Feasting.

b) Discuss the ways in which education would have changed Uma’s life.

c) Discuss the difficulties that Arun faces by being the only male child in his family.

Essay Topic 2

Foreshadowing is used in almost all works of fiction. Discuss the following:

a) What is foreshadowing? How many incidences of foreshadowing are in Fasting, Feasting? How does foreshadowing contribute to a book's suspense?

b) Discuss an example of foreshadowing in “Fasting, Feasting” including why you believe it is foreshadowing.

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the following to discuss:

a) Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in Fasting, Feasting. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Desai chooses the symbols he does?

b) Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Desai chooses the metaphors she does?

c) Discuss Desai's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, cliffhangers, deux ex machina, etc.), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Desai use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,038 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample