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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. The narrator describes the lake as

2. David suggests Americans want the land because

3. What change is developing in the narrator's relationship with Joe?

4. The narrator thinks she cannot communicate with Joe because

5. The narrator tells Paul

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the narrator seem to feel about returning to the town and her childhood home?

2. Describe the narrator's initial beliefs about Americans.

3. How does the narrator now view her parents?

4. Why does the narrator hide from the searchers?

5. What perceptions do her guests have of the town?

6. In what time period did the narrator grow up?

7. Both of the childhood rhymes mentioned in the chapter have to do with what subject? Why are they important?

8. Describe the narrator's relationship with her traveling companions.

9. Describe the narrator's relationship with her former lover.

10. What does the narrator reveal about the lake and river?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Consider the ideas of power and powerlessness in the novel. What might Atwood be communicating about the actions and responsibilities of the powerful? What might she suggest about the powerless? Write an essay in which you explore Atwood's message about the powerful, the powerless, or both.

Essay Topic 2

The narrator's views on taking life change throughout the course of the novel. Write an essay in which you discuss the narrator's development and her changing views on the value of life. Use at least three examples from the text to support your argument.

Essay Topic 3

The narrator in Atwood's novel remains nameless throughout. Consider the idea that, "Some people think that if they change the names of things, the things themselves will have changed, too." How does the narrator's namelessness contribute to any of Atwood's messages in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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