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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 is the source of Dr. Philobosian's sadness?

2. What is located in Desdemona's hope chest that she fears she will never use?

3. What is the first luxury Milton purchases with the insurance money?

4. What does Desdemona's mother say is critical for encourage silk worms to produce good silk?

5. What shocks Desdemona and Lefty about Sourmelina's husband, Jimmy Zismo?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the conflict between Desdemona and Lefty in the chapter "Marriage on Ice"?

2. Describe Fard Muhammad's beliefs about the evolution of race.

3. What does Milton do to convince the realtor to sell him Middlesex?

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

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

6. Describe the village of Bithynios.

7. Describe the events that allow Desdemona and Lefty to depart from Smyrna.

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

9. Why is Desdemona fearful about Tessie and Milton's burgeoning romantic relationship?

10. Describe Desdemona's transformation after Calliope's birth.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the narrator's lives as Calliope and Cal. How are they similar? How are they different? Which identity (Cal or Calliope) do you believe is his/her "true" self?Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

One of the themes in Middlesex is the American Dream. Discuss how the American Dream is used in this novel and what it says about the attainability of the dream. Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

By presenting a main character who is both male and female, Jeffrey Eugenides encourages readers to question generally held beliefs about gender identity. What is the author trying to say about gender? Is it based on biology, culture or both? Do you agree or disagree with his viewpoint? Why? Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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