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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 Gloria offer Jess?

2. What surprise does Ruth have for Jess at the beginning of Chapter 24?

3. Jess buys a ________________ concert tape for Ruth.

4. What injury does Jess sustain in the subway attack?

5. Who is the neighbor Jess meets at her new apartment?

Short Essay Questions

1. What role does Jess take on with the union and what is her motivation?

2. What precipitates Jess' move to New York City?

3. What public role does Jess take on in Chapter 26?

4. What is the significance of the apartment fire to Jess?

5. Describe Jess' life after she arrives in New York City and realizes she cannot stay in the apartment with no lock on the door.

6. Explain the symbolism of Jess' jaw being wired shut after the attack in the subway.

7. Describe Jess' mental process as she is about to inject the male hormones.

8. Why does Edna say that Jess is a "granite" butch?

9. Describe the encounter where Jess sees Butch Al in the asylum.

10. What changes does Jess see in herself after taking male hormones and how does she know she has passed as a male?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the significance of the novel's title STONE BUTCH BLUES. Why did Feinberg choose this title? Is there an understood message in the title? Is there another title you can suggest that might be more appropriate?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the role of gays and lesbians in the 1960s. What precedents are they forced to follow? What restrictions do they have? What freedoms did they have that 21st century gays and lesbians do not have?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the taboo of homosexuality in the 1960s. Compare and contrast homosexuality in America during the 1960s to homosexuality in America today. What major changes have occurred both positive and negative?

(see the answer keys)

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