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

Short Answer Questions

1. When is the first time that Olivia calls the Nawab by his name?

2. How do the midwives perform Olivia's abortion?

3. What does the narrator do on the way back to her room after learning of the pregnancy in Section 23?

4. Why, in Section 24, does Olivia cease to hurry home after her visits to the palace?

5. Where is Chid at the end of Section 30?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Heat and Dust is told from the narrator's first person journal entries and from Olivia's first person accounts in her letters to Marcia.

1) What is gained and lost from the author's use of this perspective for the story?

2) Who else could have told this story and what would the impact of their different viewpoint be?

3) If the narrator did not have Olivia's letters, but had heard of her story through oral accounts, how might the story change?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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