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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. What kind of novels does Joan write?

2. Who is Mavis Quilp?

3. What does Joan hide from Arthur about her past?

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

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is the significance of Joan seeing her mother's astral body?

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

4. Who does Leda Sprott see standing behind Joan at the Spiritualists' meeting?

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

6. How does Arthur make it easy for Joan to continue to lie to him?

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

8. What role does Marlene Pugh reappearance in Joan's life play?

9. Describe Arthur's state of mind in Chapter 20.

10. Explain why Joan does not tell her husband Arthur that she writes Costume Gothic novels.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why can't Joan confront Marlene about their past encounters? Why does she hide in the ladies' room? Are there other examples in the novel where Joan responds in a similar manner? What does this suggest about Joan's character?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

In Chapter 8, Joan's mother asks, "What have I ever done to make you behave like this?" when Joan arrives home in a lime green coat covering her substantial bulk. Discuss the reasons Joan uses her weight to taunt her mother and what Joan's mother consistently does to her as a child.

(see the answer keys)

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