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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. How old was the author when her father died?

2. Where was the author in Europe when she convinced her parents for the right to trade a tank suit for shorts at the beach?

3. Who is the author of Delta of Venus?

4. What does the author claim was her father's passion but not his job in Chapter 1?

5. What is the name of the author's youngest brother?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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