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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. Where was Hadley raised?

2. What is the root of much of the pain Hadley feels in regards to her inability to procreate?

3. What religious faith was Hadley raised in?

4. What might some wealthy women do if they do not pass the genetic screening to be allowed to procreate?

5. What did Hadley's parents do when she failed her genetic screening?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the baby lending process at the Omaha Public Library?

2. What happens when Hadley tells her family she failed her genetic screening?

3. What happens in "Graceful Burdens" to women when they reach the age of 16?

4. Describe the card catalog in the library at the start of "Graceful Burdens."

5. Why is Sidra hired for the caretaker position at the Omaha Public Library?

6. Where are library babies sent when they turn three?

7. Describe the area where the library babies stay until they are checked out.

8. What happens in "Graceful Burdens" once a woman is deemed suitable for procreation?

9. What is Hadley's life in Omaha like after she moves following her failed genetic screening?

10. What do some wealthy women do if they fail genetic screening?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing the genre classification of "Graceful Burdens." What is the genre? What are other genre options? Why did Roxane Gay choose this genre for the subject matter? What are examples from the text that support this genre classification?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay examining the babies and motherhood as a symbol in "Graceful Burdens." In what scenes does this seem most significant? What is the context? How do these work to develop the narrative?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing narrative voice in Roxane Gay's “Graceful Burdens.” Include thoughts on how the narrative voice of the story is effective in conveying the story’s themes of control, gender, and freedom.

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This section contains 681 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample