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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 does Sarhan insist about Zohra?

2. What does Zohra begin with a tenant on the fifth floor?

3. What helps the group gathering?

4. What amuses Hosny about a commotion the hall?

5. What news does Mariana bring about Sarhan days after he leaves.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Hosny move to Miramar and what is his first thought about Zohra?

2. What are Hosny's impressions of the other Miramar residents?

3. Describe Mansour Bahy.

4. How does Hosny feel towards marriage and women?

5. Describe Sarhan al-Beheiry.

6. Describe Hosny Allam.

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

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

9. About what does Amer warn Zohra and why does he do so?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Discuss the theme of choice in "Miramar". Who makes wise choices? Who makes unwise choices? Do you think Sarhan believes more in fate or free will? Why?

2. Debate the following statement in an argument/persuasion essay: Making several poor choices one after the other makes it more likely one will continue to make poor choices.

3. Rewrite the ending with Sarhan making what you think would be a wiser choice and then discuss why you believe it would be a better choice.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation that Hosny is not as well educated as most of the other boarders and can neither read nor write well and yet is considered upper class and feels superior to the other boarders at the Miramar. Discuss two other ironic situations in the book. Do you think the author intends irony towards the characters and their behaviors?

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use and meaning of five symbols you choose to analyze from "Miramar". What do they symbolize? Is the symbolism obvious? Effective? Does the symbolism contribute to the enjoyment of reading?

3. Discuss five literary devices that occur in Mirama and how they are used. Are they effective? Do they add or detract from the reading of the book? Why or why not. Some possible techniques: allusion, connotation, denouement, dialogue, flashback, figurative language, motif, metaphor, narrator, point of view, simile, mood, and puns.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "Miramar".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of "Miramar". How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes the story. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

(see the answer keys)

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