View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Zohra's grandfather do that made Zohra run away?

2. What happens when Sarhan steals a kiss from Zohra?

3. Why does Sarhan want to cultivate a relationship with Mansour?

4. What happens when Sarhan complains about his life to his friends?

5. What does Mansour try to do while Zohra is making his bed?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the fight with Safeya, Zohra and Sarhan from Sarhan's perspective.

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

3. What are Mansour's first impressions of Zohra?

4. What does Mansour do when he learns of Fawzi's arrest?

5. Describe Mansour's version of the altercation in the hallway between an unknown woman, Zohra and Sarhan.

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

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

8. What are Sarhan's quick impressions of Hosny and Mansour?

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

10. What does Sarhan say about Mariana when he asks to rent a room and how does Zohra act when she sees him at the Miramar?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Certainly "Miramar" considers the subject of gender. Discuss the following:

1. Define the term "gender."

2. Does gender only refer to whether a person is male or female? Is gender easy to identify?

3. Discuss the Egyptian cultural definitions of gender during the era of "Miramar" and the expectations for each gender. Do any of those expectations exist today?

4. Would you like to live in a culture that has those expectations for men and women that are revealed in the book? Discuss fully with examples from the text.

5. Are women the only ones harmed by gender-based expectations? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

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 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)

This section contains 1,079 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample