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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 the narrator find hanging from a tree?

2. Though David catches the fish, the narrator must

3. As she travels through the town, the narrator feels

4. Paul assumes the narrator is traveling with her husband because

5. The narrator reveals that her parents have not forgiven her for

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the narrator assume the old town priest is dead?

2. What confusion seizes Joe while he is sleeping?

3. What does the narrator believe she sees at the end of the chapter?

4. Why is the narrator bothered by the new road, and the ease with which she is able to arrive at her destination?

5. Why do David and Joe want to avoid the narrator's search for her father.

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

7. When the narrator reviews old photos she claims to see the missing part of herself. What is the missing part?

8. What attitude does the narrator express about the emotions of others?

9. Describe the narrator's perception of the townspeople toward her.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

The narrator of Atwood's novel struggles with her own humanity, preferring to consider herself an animal. Write an essay in which you define both "human" and "animal" according to the narrator, using the text as support for your argument.

Essay Topic 3

Andrea Dworking said, "Marriage meant the taking [of a woman by force] was to extend in time, to be not only use of but possession of, or ownership." Write an essay in which you defend or refute this statement based on evidence from the text.

(see the answer keys)

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