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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. The title of Chapter 3, ""That Old Catastrophe," is an allusion to what poem by Wallace Stevens?

2. What is the name of Alison Bechdel's mother?

3. Who is the "smooth-talking fortune hunter" in The Heiress that the author describes in Chapter 3?

4. Who is the "cultured, dissipated, and penniless European art collector" that the heroine marries in The Portrait of a Lady?

5. Where was Bruce Bechdel when he died?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does the author describe Joan in Chapter 3?

3. How does the author describe her "coming out" to her parents in Chapter 3?

4. What symbolism does the author relate to the obelisk in Chapter 2?

5. How would you describe the graphics style of Fun Home?

6. How does the author describe her impressions of her father's death in Chapter 2?

7. What facts are established through the author's exposition in Chapters 1 and 2?

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

9. How does the author describe her father's love of gardening in Chapter 4?

10. How does the author describe her family's trip to Europe in Chapter 3?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the community where the author grew up. How large was Bechdel's hometown? Where geographically is it located? What is the topography like in the region? How would you describe the community atmosphere?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the nonlinear structure of Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. In what ways is the narrative nonlinear? Why do you think the author chose to relate her story in this format? How does the author build tension in a nonlinear narrative style?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the themes of shame and tragedy in Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. What are the tragic elements of the narrative? How is shame symbolized in the memoir? Would you say that the ending of the book is tragic? Why or why not?

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