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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 is the Russian in the woman's story to be executed?

2. Why does Therese initially not care for the rooms in which Manuel wants to move?

3. Why does Lina claim to hate all men?

4. Why does Novalis grow weary of Maria?

5. What stories does Michel tell as Lina dozes off?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Maria finally able to overcome her aversion to sensuality?

2. Why does Manuel dislike his apartment and how does his wife deal with it?

3. Why will Maria never allow her husband to see her nude and rarely poses for him?

4. Describe the two mystery women in "Sirocco."

5. How does Manuel plan to entice the schoolgirls to his apartment?

6. For what reasons does Edna begin to find her self-confidence again after becoming estranged from Harry?

7. What are Lina's views on lesbianism?

8. Why did the Viking woman get married?

9. What are the only ways Manuel can become aroused?

10. Describe Robert and Dorothy's relationship from the time to they meet until the time they first make love.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the role of feminism in this book in the following format:

Part 1) The woman's free sexuality in "the Woman on the Dunes."

Part 2) Hilda's submissiveness in "Hilda and Rango," as well as Rango's depicted violent nature.

Part 3) Mandra, Mary, and Miriam from "Mandra."

Part 4) The narrator of "a Model" and her decisions to control and defend her sexuality how she chooses.

Part 5) The Viking princess of "Sirocco" and her relationships with her husband and friend in Shanghai.

Develop a clear thesis statement and cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the characters of Manuel and Rango in the following format:

Part 1) Compare and contrast the two men.

Part 2) Manuel's fetish for innocence.

Part 3) Rango's desire for submission.

Part 4) The two men and their relationship to control.

Part 5) The two men having no control in certain areas (Manuel's wife being the breadwinner and Rango being an alcoholic).

Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

What role does the author's language play in the eroticism and sensuality of this book? How does the phrasing and format both increase the sensuality while keeping the reader at a distance from the proceedings? How is this seen, in particular, in "the Woman on the Dunes?" In what ways are the characters' extreme intensity and seriousness increased by the language and writing? Develop a clear thesis statement on this topic and pattern an essay around these questions (though not exclusively). Cite specific examples from the text to support your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

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