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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. How does Anthea die in Chapter 23?

2. What was McClung Hall before it became an office building?

3. In Chapter 5, what do Tony, Roz and Charis talk about when they lunch together?

4. At the end of Chapter 1, from what does Zenia return?

5. Who says in Chapter 1 that "A disaster is a disaster; those hurt by it remain hurt, those killed remain killed, the rubble remains rubble"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the black enamel paint in Zenia and West's apartment in Chapter 19.

2. Describe Roz's feelings about her wealth.

3. In her undergraduate days, what was Tony's relationship with the Common room girls at McClung Hall?

4. Why does Tony think Zenia created turbulence, and why does Tony feel compelled to understand Zenia's motivations?

5. Describe Charis's relationship with Shanita.

6. What is Charis's relationship with her daughter, Augusta?

7. Explain the significance of Tony's lace-edged collars being mentioned in Chapter 1 alongside a mention of Tony's interest in wars.

8. Explain what tale Zenia gives Tony about her childhood and mother.

9. Why does Tony pick October 23, 1990 as the date on which to begin Zenia's story?

10. How does Zenia use Tony in Chapter 25?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Feminine complicity in the poor treatment of women is one of Margaret Atwood's themes in "The Robber Bride." Discuss how Zenia's actions illustrate this theme and give two additional examples from the text that do not involve Zenia.

Essay Topic 2

Zenia runs away with West, Billy, and Mitch, bringing her three supposed friends, Tony, Charis and Roz, much pain. Is there any evidence in the text that Zenia is not all evil? Does she have any good in her or any sense of true friendship toward the women she betrays? Give at least three examples from the text to support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

Give at least three examples of Charis's supposed psychic abilities in "The Robber Bride" and discuss whether you think these abilities are genuine, a figment Charis's imagination, or a combination of illusion and reality. If you do not think all of Charis's experiences are genuine psychic phenomena, what do you think they represent instead? Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

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