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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. In what room of Helena's house does Helena paint a portrait of Amma in Chapter 9?

2. After listening for a few moments to a singer Amma likes, Belinda declares that the singer is obviously feeling what emotion?

3. Belinda that she believes she will miss "how quickly and dramatically" Mary's what appears able to change?

4. How old is Belinda in Chapter 1?

5. What action does Belinda take when Mary burns her hands peeling the eggs?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Mary's perspective on karma?

2. In what way does the sound motif enter the narrative in relation to Belinda's feelings toward Mary?

3. For what reason does Nana bring Belinda to a shopping district in London?

4. What are the positive aspects that Belinda will miss about Mary?

5. What element of the burial scene in the prologue most upsets Belinda?

6. Describe Donkor's use of allusion within Chapter 9.

7. What contrast does Belinda see between Amma's appearance and her scent?

8. What types of clues does Donkor provide to suggest that Mary might have endured trauma in her past?

9. What sort of coping mechanism does Belinda herself long to use after she is "attacked" (80) with Amma's teddy bear?

10. Who is Amma and in what ways does she act as a foil to Belinda?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Could Housegirl be classified as a coming-of-age story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Look carefully at the passages of Housegirl that describe the close relationship between Belinda and Mary. What is Donkor’s purpose for discussing at length the nature of the connection between Mary and Belinda? How does Mary’s death play into this purpose in both the prologue and final chapter of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Trace the characterization arc of Belinda’s character throughout the novel Housegirl. Discuss whether Belinda is a round or flat character and whether Belinda is a static or dynamic character.

(see the answer keys)

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