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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. How does Arthur rescue Joan in front of the mirror?

2. How does Arthur respond to Joan's bad cooking?

3. What job does Joan love doing at the Sportsmen's Show?

4. What does Joan buy in Rome?

5. Why does Joan begin to fear Paul?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Joan begin to take on a new identity after leaving home?

2. How does Joan see her father differently after she returns home for the funeral?

3. Describe Joan's search for a fresh approach to her writing.

4. Why is discovering that Paul writes romance novels valuable to Joan's life?

5. How does Joan use her personal fears and concerns within the plot of the novel she is writing?

6. Why does Joan try to stop the publication of Lady Oracle?

7. Why does Joan like to go to the movies with her Aunt Lou?

8. Describe the significance of Aunt Lou's inheritance on Joan's life.

9. Describe Joan's personality while in high school.

10. Why is Joan's childhood ballet recital such a traumatic experience for her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Leda Sprott is an interesting minor character who influences Joan's belief in the occult. Discuss how Leda encourages Spiritualism in Joan at a young age and how Joan incorporates it into her life as an adult. In particular, address how Leda believes Joan is gifted and Joan's use of Automatic Writing to create Lady Oracle.

Essay Topic 2

Joan writes romance novels and prefers happy endings, but is dishonest and secretive in her own love life. Discuss how Joan's lies and secrets make positive, loving relationships impossible.

Essay Topic 3

At the end of Lady Oracle, Joan says she will stop writing romance novels and instead write Science Fiction. Why do you think Joan wants to stop writing romances? Do you think writing romances contributes to Joan's dishonesty? Would she write a good Science Fiction tale? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 920 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample