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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. Who is Fard Muhammad?

2. What is political and social climate of Detroit in this chapter?

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

4. What does Desdemona do following Lefty's death?

5. Who does Desdemona hope that Milton will marry?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Dr. Philobosian's and Uncle Pete's views on conception differ?

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

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

4. How does Jimmy Zismo change during Sourmelina's pregnancy?

5. How does Desdemona react to the speeches that she hears through the heating grates while working in the Silk Room?

6. Compare Lefty's original Zebra Room to Milton's version of the Zebra Room.

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

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

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

10. Describe the Greek General Hajienestis.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Middlesex is a first person narrative written from the point of view of Cal. Discuss how this fact influences the story? What biases does Cal bring to the story? How would the nove be different if another character was telling the story? 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

Sexual taboos are central to the story lines in Middlesex. Discuss how the author uses forbidden romance and sexual secrets in the novel. What is the impact of these taboos on the story? What is the author trying to say about our beliefs about sexuality? Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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