View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. How do the people at the hospital ward react to the narrator after she empties the bed pan of the man in the bed next to Chid?

2. How are Olivia's visits to the palace affected after she tells the Nawab that she is pregnant?

3. Who does the narrator believe is the father of the pregnant person she learns about on July 31st?

4. Describe Chid's health upon his August 15th return.

5. What is true of the schedule that Olivia and Douglas keep in Section 24?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Consider the role of faith in Heat and Dust. Select one of the questions to analyze.

1) How does the narrator's faith or lack of faith impact her experiences and expectations in this story?

2) How does the narrator's faith in herself or in others change the direction of the novel at an important point or points?

3) Which character in the story has the strongest faith? The weakest?

Essay Topic 2

Do the characters in Heat and Dust create their own destinies, or has life thrust circumstances upon them? Analyze this question for any 3 characters in the story. Be sure to select at least one character from Olivia's time and one from the minor time. Consider expectations, behavior, circumstances and attitudes.

Essay Topic 3

Many minor characters in Heat and Dust have an important role in the story and a huge impact on other characters. Choose characters below and discuss the impact or the role that this person has on other characters in the novel.

1) Harry.

2) Maji.

3) Ritu.

4) Mrs. Saunders.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 375 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample