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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In segment 14, what does the narrator begin to flaunt while she is still in school?

2. Why can't the narrator turn to her family for support in her isolation?

3. What did the mother always take with her on her trips to France?

4. What does the narrator realize about the lover even upon the first meeting?

5. How many husbands has the mother had?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At a point in the novel, the narrator compares her love for the lover to water hidden in sand. What does the narrator mean by this? When does the narrator realize she loved the lover? How does that come about?

Essay Topic 2

French Indochina was a French colony predominantly made up of non-Caucasian natives and French and foreign colonists. How would this arrangement lead to the presence of institutional or colonial racism? How is colonial racism addressed in this novel? What characters in the novel express racism? Provide examples.

Essay Topic 3

Look at the character of the younger brother. Although he is a more minor character, his treatment by the older brother is a prevalent event in the novel. The younger brother is a character whose life is dictated by fear, though, he is not the only character whose fear influences their actions. Describe the role of fear as it pertains to the younger brother. Identify the other characters for which fear plays a role in the novel. How are they affected by it?

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This section contains 322 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample