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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 is the name of Alison Bechdel's mother?

2. When was Bruce Bechdel born?

3. How does the author describe Joan after their meeting in Chapter 3?

4. When did Alison Bechdel's parents purchase their home?

5. Who is the 77-year-old poet who is referenced as a lesbian in the panel on page 74?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the title of Chapter 4, "In the Shadow of the Young Girls in Flower" allude to?

2. What mythological allusions does the author make in Chapter 1?

3. What literary allusion is tied to lilacs in Chapter 4?

4. What does the title of Chapter 3, "That Old Catastrophe" allude to? Why is this significant?

5. What symbolism is related to the Swiss Army knife that appears in Chapter 3?

6. How does the author describe her parents' first meeting in Chapter 3?

7. What literary allusions does the author make in describing her mother in Chapter 3?

8. How affectionate does the author describe her family when growing up?

9. How does the author describe her father's profession and obsessions in Chapter 1?

10. What does the title of Chapter 2, "A Happy Death" allude to?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the characterization of the author's mother, Helen Bechdel in the memoir. How would you describe the relationship between Alison and Helen Bechdel? What did Helen Bechdel study and how does the author describe her mother's talents?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of homosexuality in Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. How does the author develop this theme through setting, characterization, action, symbolism, and imagery? How does the author describe coming to terms with her homosexuality? How does she relate to her father's homosexuality?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the dream imagery that Bechdel presents in Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. How would you describe the images of these dream sequences? What similes, metaphors, and other literary devices are employed in the dream imagery?

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