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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. The narrator compares her newly-built school to her old school and notes that both schools have the same...
2. Betsy Goodman says her father calls "choosing what you want to hear and concentrating only on that" (p. 18) by the phrase...
3. The narrator describes which major character as fulfilling the role of school princess (that is, regal, cool, far off, blonde, and slim)?
4. Which character is the youngest major character of the novel?
5. The narrator states that Lisa Shilling's oldest friend is...
Short Essay Questions
1. Based on the various descriptions of the four main protagonists' families, do you believe they would all go to the same public high school?
2. Describe Mary Nell Fickett's and Besty Goodman's initial attempts to secure professional help for their friend Lisa Shilling.
3. Why does the narrator spend so much time establishing which protagonist is better looking, which is more intelligent, and which is from a wealthier family?
4. Why does Lisa Shilling believe that she is suffering form mental illness?
5. What aspect of Mary Nell Fickett's personality is demonstrated by her voluminous reading of psychology textbooks?
6. Why does Lisa Shilling find herself attracted to Elizabeth Frazer, as a potential friend?
7. What kind of a job does Jeremy Bernstein do as the high school guidance counselor?
8. Describe the nature of the relationship between Brian Morris and Lisa Shilling in the early part of the novel.
9. Why is chapter one presented in italic type face?
10. Why does Lisa Shilling tell her parents that she thinks she is mentally ill in front of her friend Mary Nell Fickett?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Imagine you are on a jury deciding the apportionment of 'blame' for Lisa's worsening condition. Which character of the novel would you select to receive the lion's share of the blame for Lisa spending many months with worsening symptoms without receiving adequate professional help. For this exercise, you may not select Mr. or Mrs. Shilling. Explain and defend your selection.
Essay Topic 2
In the final analysis, who is the novel 'about'? Is the novel the story of Lisa Shilling and her fight against mental illness? Or is the novel about Betsy Goodman and her coming of age as a friend in a difficult relationship? Is it about denial in parents and community? Or is it about someone or something else? Explain and defend your selection.
Essay Topic 3
Examine the role of gender in the novel--do characters act they way they do because they are male or female? Which characters (if any) don't act like they 'should' for their gender?
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This section contains 1,154 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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