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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 does Hosny drive to Mazarita?

2. For what is Amer famous?

3. From whom does Zohra turn down a marriage proposal.

4. Where is Amer Wagdi's old residence?

5. How does Tolba feel about the new male boarders?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where has Amer Wagdi moved and how long has it been since he was last there?

2. How does Hosny feel about old people?

3. Describe the encounter between Zohra, Hosny and Sarhan.

4. Who announces Sarhan's death and what is Hosny's reaction?

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

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

7. Describe Sarhan al-Beheiry.

8. Why is Sarhan fighting a drunken Hosny in the hall one evening?

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

10. Describe Mansour Bahy.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Discuss Hosny Allam's character as symbolic of the corruption that underlies Egyptian culture at that time.

2. After researching Egyptian history from 1940 to the present, do you think Zohra Salama will make it as a single female in Egyptian society? Discuss fully using examples from your research.

3. Compare/contrast the life and choices of Zohra Salama to that of Safeya Barakat. How are their backgrounds similar or dissimilar? Why do they each make the specific choices they make? Could Zohra end up like Safeya? Why or why not? Is redemption possible for Safeya in the Egyptian culture of that time? Why or why not.

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

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss this book based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if it is a successful novel. Explain your rationale with specific examples.

3. Do you think the fact that "Miramar" falls within the genre of historical fiction changes the criteria upon which its success should be judged? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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