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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 commentary on beauty does Julie Kikuchi make in this chapter?

2. To what religious faith does Stephanides family belong?

3. What happens to the Zebra Room's earnings?

4. What is the source of Dr. Philobosian's sadness?

5. How does Callie become a first hand witness to the burning of the diner?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Describe Detroit in 1967.

5. Why do Tessie and Milton want a baby daughter so badly?

6. Describe Desdemona's appearance.

7. Why does Lefty visit the town of Bursa so often?

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

9. Describe Marcus Wyxzewixard Challouehliczilczese Grimes.

10. What goes through Tessie's mind as she watches movies at the theatre?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the relationship between tradition and the modernity in Middlesex. How does the author represent the traditional and the modern in the story? How do the two interact with each other? What is the impact of modernity on tradition? Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout Middlesex, the setting of the story changes several times. Select one of the settings of the story: Turkey in the early 1900's, Detroit in the 1920's, Detroit/Grosse Point in the 1960's or Berlin in modern day.

1) Describe what happens in the story while the story is set in location and time period

2) Discuss the influence of the setting (place and time) on the story

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,173 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample