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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. By what does Mansour think Zohra is probably driven?

2. Who does Mansour think is the life of the party on the night of the Umm Kulthum concert

3. Who is Ali Bakir's lover?

4. Who does Sarhan encounter on the street and whom he finds different but familiar?

5. About what does Mahmoud want Sarhan's advice?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What happens when Sarhan tries to kiss Zohra for the first time, and what is Zohra's reaction?

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

6. What do Mansour and Amer discuss one night?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

In the world of academe, historical fiction is often considered an inferior form of the novel compared to "classic" literature. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think historical fiction might be considered second-rate compared to the classics?

2. Do you think historical fiction has the same elements as the classics? Why or why not?

3. What are the purposes do you think for people reading "the classics"? What are the purposes for people reading historical fiction? Is one purpose better than another? Explain your response.

4. Would you read historical fiction even outside an educational setting? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Naguib Mahfouz has tried as much as possible to use historical events and facts around which to weave his work of fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think "Miramar" qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If much of the events in the book are historical, what surprises you about the way the events play out?

3. What surprises you about the culture of late 1960s Egypt?

(see the answer keys)

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