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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. Who wants Valentin to leave the movement?

2. What does Valentin think about this story?

3. Where is Leni invited to that interrupts her attempt to give over the information she has learned?

4. What is included in the footnote at the end of this chapter?

5. Who ends up becoming almost immediately ill from the dinner served to the men?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Valentin say helps him escape his cell and his reality?

2. Who encourages Valentin to tell what he knows?

3. What has the butcher been doing in the new movie Molina is describing in this chapter?

4. How has Valentin been tortured?

5. What is the Warden's new plan to learn more about Valentin's comrades?

6. Describe the two men who are being held in the prison in the beginning of the story.

7. What does the Warden suggest Molina say about his visits to keep Valentin from becoming suspicious?

8. Why does Valentin say he avoids the pleasures of the flesh?

9. What does the zombie woman do to the husband?

10. What does the woman have to do in order to support the care of her man?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

While Molina seems to be a person who is emotional and quite reactive to stress, at the same time, the reader gets the feeling that he may be manipulating the Warden.

Part 1: What makes the reader think Molina is possibly manipulating the Warden?

Part 2: Do you think Molina is trying to help the Warden or help himself? Why do you answer the way you do?

Part 3: Does Molina seem capable of manipulation? Cite examples to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

At times, the reader does not know if the writing and the narration is true or a vision from the character. This fantasy-like tone makes the story one that may not be as complete as it seems.

Part 1: Cite two examples in which the narration of the story becomes unclear as to whether it is real or if it is just a dream/vision.

Part 2: What do these examples seem to tell us about the idea of reality and fantasy?

Part 3: If these examples are not based in reality, does this weaken the story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Women do not seem to play a large role in the story, being relegated only to the maternal role and to the person Valentin continues his fight for.

Part 1: Who are the female characters in this story? What is their relationship to the main characters of the dialogue?

Part 2: Do the female characters seem stronger or weaker than the male characters? Why did you choose the answer you did?

Part 3: What does Puig seem to be saying about the female gender?

(see the answer keys)

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