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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 John realize about his search for the meaning of his life?

2. What does John seem to hate about New Orleans?

3. Why has John given up his search?

4. How is this ironic?

5. What does Lonnie conquer in death?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does John flirt with Joyce?

2. Why is Kate so angry with John?

3. Why is Kate so happy in Chicago?

4. What does Aunt Emily ask of John?

5. How does John treat Kate?

6. What ruins the trip?

7. Why does Kate want to go to Chicago with John?

8. Does John enjoy seeing Harold?

9. What does John introduce Kate as at the end of his chapter?

10. Why doesn't Kate like Harold's wife?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How are moviegoers outsiders to the rest of the community? Give examples of other groups that are considered loners or outsiders in your community. Why are these people outsiders? Have they made themselves outsiders or has the larger society forced them to become outsiders?

Essay Topic 2

Kate and Aunt Emily are two matriarchal figures in John's life that pressure him to make different decisions.

1. Although Kate thinks she is very different than Aunt Emily, how are the characters the same? Why do they control so much of John's thoughts?

2. Explain why Kate is Aunt Emily's foil in the novel.

3. What life choices does Kate pressure John to make? How is her pressuring any different than the high standards that Aunt Emily has for John?

Essay Topic 3

Strict Southern guidelines prescribe that women and men act a certain way. Kate and John often find themselves searching for their place in a society that does not accept them. How have John and Kate made themselves outsides in New Orleans society?

1. Describe 2 different times each character alienates themselves.

2. Describe 2 times that New Orleans society outcasts Kate and John.

(see the answer keys)

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