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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. How does Uma's family get news of Anamika's death?

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

3. About what does Mrs. Patton question Arun on the way home from the grocery store?

4. What particularly strikes Arun as he is walking to the Patton home?

5. Who does not come to the table for dinner at the Patton house?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Uma seem different from the other guests at Mrs. O’Henry’s?

2. What does Dr. Dutt want when she comes one day to visit?

3. How does Arun feel when he finds Mrs. Patton sunbathing one day?

4. What does Melanie say in Chapter 25 about her mother's sunbathing?

5. What does Mrs. Patton encourage Arun to cook?

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

7. What does Mrs. Patton say upon hearing that Arun is a vegetarian?

8. How does Arun feel when he receives an aerogramme from Papa?

9. Why is Mama suspicious of Mrs. O'Henry's motives in inviting Uma?

10. What is Rod Patton like?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

a) Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in Fasting, Feasting.

b) Trace and analyze one major theme of Fasting, Feasting. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

c) Trace and analyze two secondary themes of this book. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 2

Sometimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action-driven, and sometimes it is the other way around. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

What do you think it means to say that a plot is character-driven? Action-driven? How do you think a plot differs if it is character-driven versus action-driven? Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why? Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not? What type of plot do you think Fasting, Feasting is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

a) Compare/contrast the characters of Uma and Arun. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples.

b) Compare/contrast the characters of Uma and Uma’s mother and father. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

c) Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in Fasting, Feasting help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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