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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 Naomi encourage Marielle to do in "Talking to Myself and Feeling Old"?

2. In "We've Only Just Begun," what does Marielle do that annoys Naomi?

3. Which artist does Jordan joke the painting at Big Sur was made by?

4. Why does Naomi maintain her Big Sur house?

5. What does Ouija mean?

Short Essay Questions

1. While Jordan and Jordy get snacks for Marielle's funeral, Joran reveals that Jordy struggles with what?

2. How does Naomi react when Marielle discovers her ring and why did her fiancé choose it?

3. Why is Jordan's group chat called NANA's HUNGRY LITTLE PIE EATERS and who is Nana?

4. Why is the restaurant named Nepenthe?

5. How did the friends meet and how old were they?

6. What were Alec's post-grad plans?

7. What does Jordan imagine himself as in the beginning of the novel and why?

8. In "We've Only Just Begun," during breakfast, what action does Jordy do that causes Naomi to reflect on his sexuality; why does she come to that conclusion?

9. What is Jordan's job and current opinions on his field in "Yesterday Once More"?

10. How does Craig respond after the Ouija Board? What does he want to find out?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Selecting any of the sections titled "The Jordans," write an essay discussing why Rowley uses a different tone and mood when discussing Jordan's diagnosis. What is the literary effect of this? What is Rowley trying to suggest with this juxtaposition?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay arguing how Rowley's use of omniscient narration is necessary for the construction of his characters. What elements would be left behind if limited narration was used; which facets of the novel would no longer work? Why is it important that the reader has access to every person in the friend group's thoughts?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay discussing Rowley's use of character foils and character mirrors. How is the narration impacted by Craig and Marielle's dissimilarity and the Jordans' similarity? What is the literary purpose of this decision? How does it affect character development? Make sure to reference one to two scenes from the book.

(see the answer keys)

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