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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. Where is Avey as Chapter 5 begins?

2. What did Great Aunt Cuney do that would get her tossed out of the dances?

3. What kind of course did Jay pay for with his GI benefits?

4. How does Avey feel when she enters her hotel room?

5. A man tells Avey that from the back she looks like a woman named _________.

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Jay and Avey's life begin to take a turn for the better?

2. What were Avey's daughters' opinions of Avey going on the Caribbean cruise?

3. What happened when Avey finally let loose with her suspicions of Jay?

4. What is the premise of this novel?

5. What does Avey recall about the hard financial times they had during their early marriage?

6. Why did Avey become obsessed with the idea that Jay was being unfaithful to her?

7. What complications emerge in Avey's dream when she, as an adult, resists Great Aunt Cuney's insistence to follow her?

8. How does Avey try to sort out the mess she seems to be in at the harbor?

9. Describe how Jay works hard to provide for his family at the expense of his own soul.

10. How does Avey recall the changes that turned Jay into Jerome?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author uses some important instances of foreshadowing in the story. Explain what foreshadowing is and cite at least two examples, making sure to explain what makes each an example of foreshadowing.

Essay Topic 2

Why did Marshall choose to use the omniscient narrator perspective for the novel? What does this point of view entail? What do you know about the characters and the plot line that you would not know from a different point of view?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the story. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

(see the answer keys)

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