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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 happens when Susan tries to give the person who watches the house a packet of letters?

2. Who does Susan find when she goes to Mr. Foe's home on May 1st?

3. What does Susan compare to moving the stones on the island?

4. How is Susan feeling when she starts to dance?

5. What clue is given that Susan knew Mr. Foe before coming hiring him to write her story?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of Susan putting her written pages into Mr. Foe's basket?

2. Why does Susan say that she and Friday live in Mr. Foe's house "like poor relations"?

3. How does Susan feel about Friday in Part Two?

4. Why is Susan's dance important?

5. Is Susan self-sufficient or dependent on others?

6. Explain Susan's concerns over her story.

7. Why does Susan doubt young Susan's story?

8. Explain the mystery surrounding Susan's lost child.

9. What forms the bond between Susan and Friday in Part Two?

10. Describe the settings in Part Two.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

While Foe serves as a broad metaphor for certain themes, the novel is also full of shorter literary metaphors and similes. Identify five metaphors or similes used by the author, explain the context in which they appear and the benefit their insertion offers to plot development or character development.

Essay Topic 2

The theme of Foe is dependent on another novel: Robinson Crusoe, written by Daniel Defoe. Analyze the literary technique used by J.M. Coetzee to create a novel entirely based on the existence of a novel that exists outside of the story being told.

Essay Topic 3

The theme of parenthood, motherhood and giving birth recur often in Foe. Discuss the importance of this theme in relationship to:

1) Susan and Cruso.

2) Susan and Friday.

3) Susan and Mr. Foe.

4) Susan and her daughter.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 911 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample