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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 item has caused Bertie's injury?

2. Why does Sabine like her visit so far with Parsifal's family?

3. Where has Sabine been sleeping the last few nights?

4. Who had released Parsifal from the locked location?

5. What does Bertie order Howard to do after she is hurt?

Short Essay Questions

1. What makes Sabine wonder if the people she loved put on brave faces for her?

2. How do Sabine's views of the world differ from Dot's perspective?

3. What does Sabine finally see in the Tonight Show performance?

4. What is so unique about Sabine's trip to Wal-Mart?

5. How is Parsifal's true past so different from the one Sabine had always envisioned?

6. What does Sabine make of the kiss from Kitty?

7. What does Sabine tell her parents about her visit with the Fetters family so far?

8. What are the circumstances in which Kitty kisses Sabine?

9. What does Sabine discover when she explores Parsifal's childhood room?

10. What is the result of Howard's feeling foolish during the magic trick?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the role of the women in the novel, specifically, how did Dot's life differ from that of Sabine's in the next generation? In what ways is Dot's life mirrored in Kitty's life? What roles do family, culture and experiences play in forming a woman's character and life story?

Essay Topic 2

Dot is baffled that Sabine would have married Parsifal who was a gay man. Why would Sabine commit to marrying Parsifal if he could not return her love in all ways possible? Why would she choose to share her husband with another man? Explain Sabine's complicated love.

Essay Topic 3

Denial seems to be almost an unnamed character in the book. How pervasive is the sense of denial? Why does it have such a prevalent place in the lives of the characters? Explain how an inanimate object or characteristic can be a character.

(see the answer keys)

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