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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 9 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What type of baby does Hadley choose to borrow?

2. What is the name of the baby Hadley borrows from the library?

3. What did Seraphina often fantasize about before becoming licensed?

4. How did Seraphina's father react when she once told him she did not want to be a mother?

5. How old is the baby Hadley borrows from the library?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does borrowing a baby make Hadley feel about her lot in life?

2. How does Seraphina discover her nannies are gone and how does she react?

3. Who comes to Hadley's apartment after she arrives with Gemma and where are they from?

4. Describe Hadley's experience at the library when she looks for a baby to borrow.

5. How does Seraphina feel about her life as a mother?

6. What does one of the woman who comes to Hadley's apartment say to Hadley when she says that borrowing a baby is not a crime?

7. Why do the women who come to Hadley's apartment say they think she is one of them?

8. Why does Hadley consider running away with Gemma when she takes her from the library?

9. How does Paul behave around Seraphina?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Write an essay analyzing Roxane Gay's language style and word choice in "Graceful Burdens." What are some words that stand out to you and why? What words are repeated? What words are most impactful? Explain your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay comparing and contrasting Hadley and Seraphina in "Graceful Burdens." What details help develop their character and what do these details tell you about them? What is their background? How do they feel about their current reality? In what ways are they similar or different? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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