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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. Of what does Hosny become convinced after talking with Mariana about Zohra?

2. What does Hosny learn about Zohra at breakfast?

3. Who does the narrator say is an introvert?

4. About what does Hosny obsess?

5. What is the bond between Amer and Mansour?

Short Essay Questions

1. After dropping the woman off at Mazarita, how does Hosny relieve his tension?

2. How do Zohra and Amer have a chance to talk and how does Zohra feel about the two older, male boarders?

3. What does Mariana offer Zohra and what does Amer fear about Zohra?

4. Describe Hosny Allam.

5. Describe Sarhan al-Beheiry.

6. Why does Hosny's attitude towards Zohra change?

7. How does Amer respond to the news that Zohra is taking reading lessons, and how do others respond?

8. What do Amer and Mariana complain about and plan?

9. What commotion in the hallway does Hosny respond to, and what does he do?

10. What is Tolba Marzuq relationship to Mariana, and what does Amer think of him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Naguib Mahfouz has tried as much as possible to use historical events and facts around which to weave his work of fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think "Miramar" qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If much of the events in the book are historical, what surprises you about the way the events play out?

3. What surprises you about the culture of late 1960s Egypt?

Essay Topic 2

1. Research the history of Egypt in the first 7 decades of the 20th century and write a summary of what you learn that is relevant to understanding the political situation in "Miramar".

2. Research the basic tenets of Islam and explain how Islam informs the plot and characters in "Miramar".

3. Do you believe it makes for a more sophisticated and enjoyable reading of a book such as "Miramar" to understand the basic political and religious forces at play in the book? Explain fully with examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Many events that happen in "Miramar" are foreshadowed by previous events and/or signs. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "foreshadow."

2. Why would an author use foreshadowing? Do you think it adds or detracts from your experience as a reader? Explain.

3. Trace and analyze five instances of foreshadowing in the story. Match up what is mentioned earlier and what it foreshadows. Did you guess that each instance of foreshadowing was a "heads up" of something to come? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 773 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample