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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 Mansour try to do while Zohra is making his bed?

2. Who is Zohra with when Sarhand sees her after visiting with his friend Rafat?

3. What history does Mansour think of writing?

4. What has Mansour studied for his radio program?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How does Sarhan's relationship with Aleya develop?

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

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

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

7. What are Mansour's first impressions of some of the boarders at the Miramar?

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

9. Briefly describe Mansour's meeting with his longtime friend Fawzi.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many events that happen in "Miramar" are foreshadowed by previous events and/or signs. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "foreshadow."

2. Why would an author use foreshadowing? Do you think it adds or detracts from your experience as a reader? Explain.

3. Trace and analyze five instances of foreshadowing in the story. Match up what is mentioned earlier and what it foreshadows. Did you guess that each instance of foreshadowing was a "heads up" of something to come? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Sarhan commits suicide (presumably). Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze five major events that leads up to Sarhan's suicide. Could any of them have been altered? What does each event contribute to Sarhan's fateful decision?

2. Suicide is often considered by people who feel they have no other options. Do you think Sarhan is at that point when he kills himself? What other options does Sarhan have (consider the times and culture in which Sarhan lives)?

3. Is Sarhan's suicide an act of courage? Stupidity? Selfishness? Do you hold him responsible for the impact his death will have on those who love him? How do you think they will be affected?

4. Do you think Sarhan's friends are partly to blame for the his problems? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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