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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. In Chapter 3 Annie remembers a painful insult from her sister, Audrey. What was most painful about what Audrey said?

2. How does Rosemary view the romantic relationship between herself and Graham after they sleep together for the first time?

3. Whenever Annie thinks about her first husband, what is her primary emotion?

4. How does Graham finally get up the nerve to end his relationship with Rosemary?

5. What is Graham's response to Frieda when she apologizes, prior to driving away after their marriage has ended?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Sarah and Lucas believe must take place for their father and why?

2. Why is Annie surprised by Sarah's behavior at Annie and Graham's home?

3. Why does Lucas resent his mother?

4. How does Annie feel about Graham's body?

5. What advice does John Norris give Graham over their lunch date?

6. What does Graham do to make sure he has a talk with Rosemary about ending their relationship?

7. What does Annie realize, towards the end of this section of the book, is changing regarding her relationship to her children?

8. What does Annie notice at the beginning of Chapter 7 about Graham?

9. How does Graham feel after his talk with Rosemary?

10. What leads to Graham's affair with Rosemary?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Both Sarah and Lucas feel that they are unable to grieve because they must be strong for their mothers. Why do they feel they must be strong? How does this behavior reflect their relationships with their mothers? How does it also reinforce their feelings towards their mothers?

Essay Topic 2

The novel ends with Annie grieving again over the loss of Graham. How has her grief changed over the course of the novel? What has led to these changes? What does this reveal about the complexities of grief?

Essay Topic 3

At the end of Chapter 6, Graham sees the beautiful bouquet of flowers Annie has purchased. How does he compare it to his bouquet? How do these bouquets of flowers reference the people who purchased them? What do these bouquets reinforce about what the reader knows about these two characters?

(see the answer keys)

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