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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. Who sits next to Danielle at the event?

2. What does Bootie hope to find in the city he has chosen?

3. Where does Murray join a colleague?

4. What does Julius lead his friends to believe he does most of the time?

5. With whom has Bootie fallen in love?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe how Ludo takes on greater importance in Marina's life and what he tries to convince her to do regarding her father.

2. What is ironic about the chapter on raising children in Murray's book?

3. Who is Frederick (Bootie) Tubb and what is he doing since he left college?

4. How does an affair between Murray and Danielle get started?

5. When Marina and Julius meet to talk about Bootie, what emerges from the tone of their conversation?

6. What strides has Bootie made in the two weeks he has been in Manhattan?

7. What are Bootie's plans for his arrival in Manhattan?

8. What kind of father is Murray to Marina when she comes to him for help?

9. What are Ludo's obvious opinions about Murray and how does Danielle feel about them?

10. How do Murray and Marina deal with the issue of the dead cat?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the overall setting setting for the novel? Be sure to include geography, time period and any pertinent popular culture events. Why did Messud choose to use these places in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

The author uses more than one iteration on the motif of disappointment. Identify at least two characters who either embody or experience disappointment then cite an example to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

How does Messud address the gay culture in Manhattan in the early twenty-firstcentury? Is she authentic in her portrayal of gays during this time period? Does she slip into any stereotypes that may be found offensive? Does she portray gays in a flattering light in her book? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 959 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample