View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Lefty teach Desdemona to help her pass the English literacy test required for entry into America?

2. What industry is the Temple No. 1 involved in?

3. What is the "maze" that Jimmy tells Lefty women should be "shut up in"?

4. What drives Desdemona and Lefty from Bithynios?

5. What does Uncle Pete encourage Tessie and Milton to do to ensure their baby will be a girl?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is particular significance of Lefty and Desdemona (brother and sister) marrying for Cal/Calliope, the narrator?

2. Why does the vigilante who throws a Molotov Cocktail into the Zebra Room yell "Opa!" as he sets the diner on fire?

3. Describe Sourmelina's appearance when Lefty and Desdemona first arrive in Detroit. What is the significance of the way she looks?

4. Describe Desdemona's silkworm box and its contents.

5. Compare Milton's and Mike Antoniou's views on religion.

6. How does the narrator characterize Lefty's gradual demise?

7. What does Desdemona do when she hears that Milton's Navy unit will be going to war?

8. Describe Detroit in 1967.

9. Why does Desdemona become concerned about her unborn child after talking with Dr. Philobosian?

10. Describe the Greek General Hajienestis.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dr. Luce's study of Cal/Calliope not only explains his/her medical condition, but also causes him/her to make the decision to change genders.

1) Describe Dr. Luce's conclusions about Cal/Calliope's medical condition. What is his diagnosis? What does he propose as a course of treatment?

2) Analyze the accuracy of Dr. Luce's conclusions. Did he correctly diagnose Cal/Calliope? Why or why not? Was his course of treatment appropriate? Why or why not?

3) Discuss how Cal/Calliope's life would have been different if s/he had continued to work with Dr. Luce and had followed his course of treatment.

Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides weaves actual events from history (Turkish and American) into his fictional story. Select one of the situations where he places his characters within a real historical context and:

1) Describe the historical context of the scene or chapter (i.e. What actually happened in history that Eugenides uses in the book?).

2) Discuss the relationship between the historical context and the fictional story of the Stephanides family. What does this piece of history have to do with the family's life? Why does Eugenides choose to place these characters at this particular point in the story in this particular historical context?

Essay Topic 3

Middlesex looks at the relationship between gender and physical sex (i.e. male or female body parts and hormones). Discuss what the novel says about:

1) the relationship between the two. Are they always the same or different? Why?

2) what influences gender? Is physical sex the only thing that determines gender? What else influences gender?

Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas. Then comment on the novel's view points. Do you agree or disagree with what the novel says about the relationship between gender and physical sex? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,150 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample