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

2. Where is the home where Alison Bechdel grew up?

3. In what role was the author's mother performing in the play when she met her husband?

4. How long prior to his death did Bruce Bechdel's wife ask him for a divorce?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What symbolism does the author illuminate in her father's library in Chapter 3?

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

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

6. What allusions are made to the works of F. Scott Fitgerald in Chapter 3?

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

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

9. How and why does the author allude to It's a Wonderful Life in Chapter 1?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the genre and format of Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. Is the book fiction or nonfiction? Under what sub-genres is the book categorized? What is noteworthy about the book's genre and format?

Essay Topic 2

What major facts does the author establish in the beginning of the narrative? How does she establish the setting and relationships within her family? How are these important plot points revealed to the reader?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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