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Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What does Zohra begin with a tenant on the fifth floor?
2. What does Sarhan relate?
3. What increases Hosny's hatred?
4. What does Hosny do one rainy morning with Zohra's teacher?
5. How does Tolba feel about the new male boarders?
Short Essay Questions
1. After dropping the woman off at Mazarita, how does Hosny relieve his tension?
2. Describe Sarhan al-Beheiry.
3. What is the general atmosphere at the beginning of the Umm Kulthum concert, and how does that change?
4. What does Mariana offer Zohra and what does Amer fear about Zohra?
5. How does Hosny feel about old people?
6. About what does Amer warn Zohra and why does he do so?
7. Describe the encounter between Zohra, Hosny and Sarhan.
8. Who announces Sarhan's death and what is Hosny's reaction?
9. What are Hosny's impressions of the other Miramar residents?
10. About what is Amer dreaming when he hears a ruckus in the hallway?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss one of the following in relation to The Awakening:
1. Compare/contrast the characters of Sarhan al-Beheiry and Hosny Allam. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Is either man's beliefs more worthy than the other? Be specific and give examples.
2. Compare/contrast the characters of Sarhan al-Beheiry and Mansour Bahy. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?
3. Thoroughly analyze how two of the secondary characters help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.
Essay Topic 2
"Miramar" ends on an unhappy or seemingly morbid note. Discuss the following:
1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?
2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Miramar" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Miramar" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.
3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?
Essay Topic 3
Naguib Mahfouz published over 50 novels, more than 350 short stories, dozens of movie scripts, and five plays over a 70-year career. Many of his works have been made into Egyptian and foreign films. There are a number of interesting questions raised by this book. Questions that Mahfouz may have wanted readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:
1. Research the life of Naguib Mahfouz and see if/where his life may have influenced his writing. Write a 2-3 page informative essay about Mahfouz as an author.
2. What does the term "author agenda" mean?
3.. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Mahfouz's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Mahfouz's probable agenda concerning that idea.
3. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?
4. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?
This section contains 942 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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