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. Yale finds out at the pride parade what information about Roman?

2. Whom does Fiona blame for Nico's death?

3. What is NOT an adjective used to depict the furniture store where Fiona works?

4. What is the name of the cult to which Kurt and Claire had belonged?

5. A mass shooting in what type of location happens in Paris during Fiona's stay?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is ironic about Charlie's relationship with Julian?

2. Who is Dan?

3. What simile is used to indicate how Julian feels about Roscoe?

4. Dr. Cheng makes what distinction between secrecy and shame in his conversation with Yale?

5. How does Fiona describe the setting in which Nico had died?

6. What techniques does Makkai use in order to portray Yale's mood as he returns home from a business trip?

7. Who brings Fiona's daughter Claire to her for the first time and how does Fiona react?

8. At what age had Claire started to help Fiona in the furniture store and what tasks had she performed?

9. What "double good news" (231) does Arnaud reveal to Fiona at Richard's house in Paris?

10. What information does Fiona find out about her granddaughter Nicolette during her meeting with Claire?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze The Great Believers from an Existential perspective. What elements of life does it suggest hold the most meaning and why?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the instances of irony within the narrative of The Great Believers and analyze Makkai’s purpose for including each instance you discuss.

Essay Topic 3

Trace the characterization arc of Fiona’s character throughout the novel The Great Believers. Discuss whether Fiona is a round or flat character and whether she is a static or dynamic character as you compose your essay.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 910 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample