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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 is the weather as the story opens?

2. Why is Frances' playing so emotionless?

3. What instrument does the student in the magazine profile play?

4. What business does Amelia run from her house?

5. How old is Frances?

Short Essay Questions

1. What information does the author provide about events leading up to Miss Amelia's ten-day marriage?

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

3. What do the men think about Bitsy especially in light of the accident suffered by his good friend?

4. How does Amelia try to get rid of Marvin?

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

6. How does Mr. Brook finally confront Madame Zilensky and how does he ultimately handle the situation with her?

7. Explain the role of misfits in McCullers' work and how Cousin Lymon and Amelia both fall into that category.

8. What is the result of the one-sided relationship between Amelia and Cousin Lymon?

9. What is the nature of the altercation between Martin and his wife, Emily?

10. Why could Martin's children not eat the meal their mother had prepared for them earlier?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Ballad of the Sad Cafe" is a classic story of love and betrayal. What does that classification entail? Why does this story fit into this category? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

The author uses more than one iteration on the motif of life-death-life. Identify at least two motifs about life-death-life in the book. Then cite an example to support each answer.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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