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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 is "Lift"?

2. What does Lila Mae Watson do for a living?

3. Where do Lila Mae and the "screaming man" cross paths?

4. What does Chancre promise the media?

5. What happens at the Fanny Briggs Building?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Frank Chancre want to find the Black Box plans before anyone else?

2. Who is Frank Chancre?

3. What is significant about Lila Mae as an inspector?

4. What does Marie Claire tell Lila Mae in Down: Part Two?

5. What does Natchez reveal to Lila Mae about James Fulton?

6. What does Chuck Gould report to Lila about the accident?

7. What happens at the Fanny Briggs building?

8. What does Lila Mae decide she is going to do about the Black Box?

9. Who is Mr. Reed?

10. Why does Reed send Lila Mae to Marie Claire?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay exploring the power structure of the city in The Intuitionist. Consider the power held by Arbo and United, the two big elevator manufacturers and the subsequent levels of power below them, including the Elevator Guild, the Institution, and inspectors like Lila Mae.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that explores the symbolic and thematic importance of the Black Box. Consider what the Box is and why it is of such interest to the powers that be in the novel. Consider also how it functions symbolically in the text as well as how it helps develop the themes.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay exploring the character of Marie Claire Rogers. Marie Claire is the only other woman besides Lila Mae who plays a significant part in the novel. How does Marie Claire connect with the issues of racism, sexism, and power? How does she subvert exceptions? How does she serve as a symbolic counterpoint to Lila Mae?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 651 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample