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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. Why does Philip say he will ask around at his work for Kay?

2. What does Salvador Carriscant claim?

3. Where do Carriscant and Kay go?

4. What does narration give the reader?

5. Where was Carriscant born?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Salvador Carriscant say about his return to Manila in 1897?

2. Why does Kay spend many hours with her attorney?

3. What does Carriscant realize about Pantaleon now after knowing the man for some time?

4. Why is Kay Fischer nearly bankrupt?

5. Who is Pantaleon Quiroga?

6. Where does Carriscant visit in the chapter titled "The Nipa Barn"?

7. What does Philip do when he comes to visit Kay after she is home from her chat with Carriscant?

8. Who is Kay Fischer?

9. What do Quiroga and Carriscant do for a Chinese boy?

10. What does Carriscant learn about the photograph of the woman and what does he want to do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Do you think there was enough hard evidence to convict Carriscant of the crimes for which he went to prison? Why or why not? Use examples from your life and The Blue Afternoon to support your discussion.

2. What mistakes do you think, in detail, Carriscant made which left him open to being charged with crimes he claims he did not commit? Use examples from your life and The Blue Afternoon to support your discussion.

3. Compare Carriscant's situation, going to prison for crimes he says he did not commit, versus Kay's partner, Meyersen, who seems to have committed several crimes against Kay yet not only did not go to prison but seems to have thrived from his nefarious behavior. Use examples from your life and The Blue Afternoon to support your discussion.

Essay Topic 2

There are many questions left with no definite answers in The Blue Afternoon. Discuss the following:

1. What are two questions left with no answers that you would have liked to know? Why? Use examples from your life and The Blue Afternoon to support your discussion.

2. Discuss, in depths, why you think Boyd left so many questions. Use examples from your life and The Blue Afternoon to support your discussion.

3. Do you think a novel should tie up all loose ends and answer all questions? Why or why not? Use examples from your life and The Blue Afternoon to support your discussion.

Essay Topic 3

Beyond characterizing Kay, none of the architectural themes of Part One recur with decisive impact in the remainder of the narrative. Here, they symbolize a life of precise order, deliberately controlled to reflect simplicity. Yet, Kay's life obviously is not in order--her ex-husband pursues a complicated but uncommitted relationship; her ex-partner has stolen her past work and money; and her lawyer tells her she must sell her own home to stay afloat.

1. How do you see Kay's life in conflict with the order of her thoughts and ideas on architect? Use examples from your life and The Blue Afternoon to support your discussion.

2. Discuss reasons you think Kay allows her ex-husband to take advantage of her? Use examples from your life and The Blue Afternoon to support your discussion.

3. Do you think her issues in her relationship with her ex-husband reflect in what happens to Kay with her business partner? Why or why not? Use examples from your life and The Blue Afternoon to support your discussion.

(see the answer keys)

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