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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 cafe seem to provide to people?

2. What is one of the ways that Amelia tries to get rid of Marvin?

3. What does Marvin rub on his body prior to the big fight?

4. What is happening to Frances that Mr. Bilderbach is unaware of?

5. What do the people in town soon come to realize about the man in #12?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Marvin after Amelia kicks him out of the house?

2. Why does Mr. Brook rationalize that Madame Zilensky has created a world of lies?

3. How does John connect with his ex-wife, Elizabeth, while in New York?

4. Who is Cousin Lymon and how does he enter Amelia's life?

5. How does Cousin Lymon ultimately betray Amelia?

6. How can Amelia's life be characterized?

7. Describe John's visit to Elizabeth's home.

8. Why do the men in town get riled up on the day after Cousin Lymon's arrival and what are their plans?

9. Why is Bitsy so bitter about his situation regarding his life compared to the lives of the rich men at the table?

10. How does the relationship between Amelia and Lymon compare to the one between Amelia and Marvin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the role of women in the rural South in the 1940s when the women in the novel are living their lives. What precedents do they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do they have? What freedoms did they have that 21st century women do not have?

Essay Topic 2

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of loss. Identify at least two themes about loss in the stories. Then cite an example to support each theme you name.

Essay Topic 3

Disappointment takes on an almost human persona in these stories. What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

(see the answer keys)

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