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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 Debi recall her daughter learning a lot about when she was younger?

2. What did Debi do a few days after Paul's funeral?

3. What is Debi's daughter's name?

4. What does Debi's daughter write on the postcard she sent two weeks after she took off?

5. When reflecting on her past, what does Debi think of "as a form of joyous overflow" (6)?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has Debi done in her past which she admits makes her no angel?

2. How does Debi try to cope with the fact that Vicky ran away from her?

3. When did Vicky leave? Where did she go? With whom? What was the last word Debi received from her daughter?

4. What happened when Vicky brought a boy name Rob over? In what way did Debi embarrass Vicky? What did Vicky do that Debi found absurd?

5. Why does Debi think she should have been born in the future?

6. Describe the scene at Paul's gravesite a few days after his funeral.

7. Who is Vicky? Describe her relationship with Debi.

8. What was Debi's relationship with Paul, Sr.? How does Debi feel about Paul and his behavior?

9. What does Pammy say to Alma when they first see Debi? How does Alma respond?

10. Why is Debi surprised Alma's children pay any attention to her on Mother's Day? What did Debi see Paulie doing at Wegman's the day before Mother's Day?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a detailed analysis of tone in Saunders's "Mother's Day." Include whether the tone changes or remains the same. If it changes, include details on when, why and whether this change is effective.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay describing the imagery used in "Mother's Day." Indicate examples of imagery in explore how the imagery in the story drives the narrative.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay discussing the setting and time period of "Mother's Day." In what ways does the time period and setting impact your understanding of the story as well as the themes?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 791 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample