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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. While in college, Joey is torn between what two emotions?

2. Where does Patty go to stay after leaving the hotel in "Mistakes Were Made (Conclusion)"?

3. What is Patty's other responsibility at her school in "Mistakes Were Made (Conclusion)"?

4. What is the name of the boy Joey befriends while in college?

5. In "Mistakes Were Made (Conclusion)," what does Patty realize about all of her parents' children?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Free Space?

2. How does Walter end up reading Patty's autobiography? What is the result of this action?

3. How does Patty feel upon learning of the death of Lalitha?

4. Why does Walter hate cats so much?

5. What happens to Walter and Lalitha after Walter's speech goes viral?

6. In "The Fiend of Athens," what happens when Walter delivers a speech?

7. What happens to Joey's wedding ring? What does this situation teach Joey?

8. What does Patty realize about herself and her siblings?

9. Describe Patty's relationship with her children in the years following her father's death.

10. What is the outcome of Patty's relationship with Richard?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the author's choice to tell this story from multiple perspectives. How does the variety of narrative voices affect the plot?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the issue of parenthood in the novel. What makes a good parent? Are there any good parents in the novel? What, in your opinion, is Franzen trying to say about being a parent?

Essay Topic 3

Near the end of the novel, Walter remarks that "even a horrible marriage was less lonely than no marriage at all" (584). Write an essay that proves or disproves this statement using the characters of Walter, Patty, and Richard for support.

(see the answer keys)

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