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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 babysitter that Alison Bechdel's mother described her father having an affair with during their phone call in Chapter 3?

2. What kind of truck was involved in Bruce Bechdel's death?

3. What word from Chapter 1 refers to skillful use of one's hands when performing conjuring tricks?

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

5. The author compares her aesthetic to her father's in Chapter 1, saying that she was Spartan to her father's what?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10. How does the author compare herself with her father in Chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss some of the elements of irony in Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. What are examples of dramatic, situational, and verbal irony in the narrative? Why does the author employ irony? What are the effects of each example on the reader?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the political and historical allusions in Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. How does the author describe the political atmosphere in America during her childhood and adolescence? What major historical events took place at this time? How did they shape the author's life and outlook?

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?

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