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. How many miles away from the wake are most of Nico's family members congregating?

2. Which member of Nora's family disapproves of Nora's wish to donate certain items as part of her estate?

3. In 1985, who discusses whether or not to get the new test that has been developed?

4. When the story jumps to 2015, Fiona is on a plane bound for what location?

5. After the wake, most of the attendees go to what location?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of the film Breakfast at Tiffany's for Yale?

2. What is the source of Yale's fear of being tricked?

3. What task does Arnaud say will "take a couple of days" (133)?

4. With what aspect of Arnaud's investigation is Fiona frustrated?

5. What realization does Yale make while in the bathroom with Julian at the party?

6. Characterize the relationship between Nico and his parents prior to his death.

7. What place does Fiona name as being a location in which she will definitely not find Claire and why?

8. Characterize the relationship between Nico and Fiona prior to Nico's death.

9. Why is everyone at the party so alarmed after they see Terrence, Nico's former boyfriend?

10. What is ironic about the location at which Yale meets Charlie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a critical essay about The Great Believers while using the critical power theory lens of feminist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the novel's treatment of gender roles, the objectification of women, female empowerment, misogyny's role within society, or any other issues related to feminist theory that can be found in the novel.

Essay Topic 2

William Faulkner once famously claimed that the most important literature deals with the subject of the human heart in conflict with itself. Explain how the theme of Human versus Self is demonstrated within Makkai’s novel The Great Believers. Create a decisive, arguable claim and prove it with quotes from the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Could The Great Believers be classified as a coming-of-age story? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 942 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample