View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Laura, what individual does Richard claim told him of Alex Thomas's whereabouts?

2. Where do Iris and Laura go to live after Iris leaves Richard?

3. What does Sakiel-Norn represent for the woman?

4. The man tells the woman a story about the Peach Women of what planet?

5. What does the woman say surrounds the man?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the man and woman do when he first gets off the train?

2. At the end of the chapter, Iris hears something outside her window. What does she think it is and what is it really?

3. What is the woman's attitude while aboard the cruise ship?

4. In chapter 13 what is the state of Iris and Richard's marriage?

5. According to chapter 10, what is the political climate in Spain?

6. According to the article at the beginning of chapter 12, what are Richard's views about Germany?

7. How does Iris choose to respond to the message left by her sister?

8. How does the woman respond to the suggestion that she leave her husband before the man goes overseas?

9. In chapter 10, the woman goes and buys a copy of the man's story about the Lizard Men of Xenor. How does the printed story differ from the story the man has told the woman?

10. In chapter 13, why does Walter come over to Iris's house?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Aimee blames her mother for Laura's death. Iris, too, blames herself for Laura's death, but defends herself by saying she did not choose her actions, but was rather forced into them. Is Iris responsible for Laura's death, and if so, what could she have done to prevent it and if not, why not?

Essay Topic 2

Iris often reflects on the idea of heaven and hell. At the end of the novel, Iris comes to a conclusion about heaven and hell very similar to the conclusion drawn by the men in the story of the Peach Women of Aa'A. What is this conclusion? Using this conclusion, look at the settings in the story and determine whether these locations are representative of heaven or hell. Also, be sure to examine the significance of gardens and fire in terms of heaven and hell, as well as the implications of literary allusions, such as the importance of the literary roots of Xanadu and Avilion and Iris's name in the context of the passage from the Aeneid Laura leavers for her sister? Be sure to consider ways in which places that appear to be heaven can actually be hell and vice versa.

Essay Topic 3

Water related images pervade the novel. What do you think the water symbolizes and why do you think the author chose water? Cite at least three water images from the novel, making sure to explain them both in their immediate context and the context of the novel as a whole.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 882 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample