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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. According to Paz, what does it mean when a person is alone?

2. How does the philosophy of progress treat death?

3. In Paz's thought, what does a study of the great myths reveal?

4. In contrast to the North American, what is one of the most noticeable traits about the Mexican character?

5. According to Paz, what is the Mexican's relationship with his fellow man?

Short Essay Questions

1. How important are fiestas in Mexican culture? What relationship exists between the fiesta and the individual?

2. Who represents the conflict that Mexicans have not been able to solve? What effect does that conflict have on their culture?

3. Who is the Chingada? What relation does she hold to every Mexican, whether male or female?

4. What is Paz's understanding of woman? How does it fit the Mexican mindset?

5. How do Mexicans view their bodies? How does their view contribute to their wish for privacy?

6. Who is the Virgin of Guadalupe? How is she an important part of Mexican identity?

7. What happens during the fiesta? What is the emotional result?

8. How does Mexico's poverty relate to the fiesta? What French interpretation did it inspire?

9. In the author's parable, who is Nobody? Is it possible for Nobody to break the progression of his existence? Why or why not?

10. How did the Aztecs view sin? How does that idea explain the Conquest? What enormous change did Catholicism introduce?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the Mexican view of privacy? Why does Paz defend it at such cost? What part does lying play in his defense? Is that accepted?

Essay Topic 2

What inspired the author to write this book? What questions did he hope to answer, and did he answer them satisfactorily?

Essay Topic 3

What dualities did Sor Juana represent (philosophical, religious, gender-based)? What lasting influence did she have?

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