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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. Where does Ali want to meet Sarhan at 8 p.m.?

2. Who leaves before Umm Kulthum's concert is over?

3. How does Zohra feel about Sarhan?

4. What does Sarhan declare the first time Zohra brings him tea?

5. Who does Sarhan get interested in marrying after learning her family has money?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Mahmoud inadvertently give Sarhan an excuse to move out of living with Safeya, and what does he say about marriage?

2. Describe Sarhan's encounter with Tolba on the street.

3. How does Mansour react to Sarhan's announcement that he intends to marry Aleya?

4. What are Ali and Sarhan's plans to gain money?

5. Wat does Sarhan say about the Umm Kulthum concert?

6. Why is Mansour at the Miramar and how does he feel about that?

7. What do Mansour and Amer discuss one night?

8. What does Mansour impulsively do when he meets Doreya at the zoo?

9. What does Sarhan do the first time Zohra delivers tea to his room and how do the two interact over the next several days?

10. Summarize Mansour's analysis of the time the boarders spend together the night of the Umm Kulthum concert.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Oftentimes, a book is more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and sometimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "Miramar" is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss the character Zohra Salama. What are her strengths? Weaknesses? How does she evolve over the course of the story? Is she likable at the beginning of the story? Sympathetic? How do you view her by the end of the book? Do you think she is a protagonist or antagonist? Why

2. Thoroughly discuss the character Sarhan al-Beheiry . What are his strengths? Weaknesses? How does he evolve over the course of the story? (or does he?) Is he likable at the beginning of the story? At the end of the book? Is he trustworthy? Wise? Would you want him as a friend? As an enemy?

3. Thoroughly discuss Hosny Allam. What are his strengths? Weaknesses? How does he evolve over the course of the story? (or does he?) Is he likable at the beginning of the story? At the end of the book? Is he trustworthy? Wise? Would you want him as a friend? As an enemy?

(see the answer keys)

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