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

Short Answer Questions

1. What sounds like a bad omen?

2. "The more I think of it, the more I'm convinced that sex is innocence itself." is a statement made by ________.

3. What does Valentin want to do now that he is feeling better?

4. What is the toy Molina recalls when Valentin asks him?

5. What does Molina decide to have that morning?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

While the idea of escapism is rampant in this story, Valentin has different rules for himself in terms of what he can and cannot do.

Part 1: List the personal rules Valentin has for himself from the beginning of the story.

Part 2: Why does Valentin want to go to the infirmary when he is ill?

Part 3: Does Valentin's internal rule set change as the story progresses? If so, how? If not, why not?

Essay Topic 2

The theme of desire is another larger idea in this story, with both men desiring things outside of their cell as well as within their cell.

Part 1: What are Molina's desires at the beginning of the story?

Part 2: What are Valentin's desires at the beginning of the story?

Part 3: How do the desires of the men change as the story progresses? Are some desires different? Or are desires simply added to their lives?

Essay Topic 3

The idea of gender is something that is pursued in a subtle way in this manuscript. In moving back and forth between what is "masculine" and what is "feminine," the reader begins to ask questions of his/her own definitions of these terms as well.

Part 1: What are some examples of femininity in this story?

Part 2: What are some examples of masculinity in this story?

Part 3: What does the author seem to be saying about the definition of gender as it relates to this story? Is it important? Why or why not?

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