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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. Where is Francie from?
2. Which May Mother does Nell say she was with at the bar, even though this woman did not attend the event?
3. What is the name of the suspect mentioned in the file that Colette copied?
4. What does Francie's mother pester her about during their phone call?
5. What is the name of the television show that Winnie was on as a teenager?
Short Essay Questions
1. Who is "Token," and what is the implied source of his nickname?
2. When Nell is trying on clothes in Chapter Eight, what does she begin to worry might be true about her memory of the man at the bar?
3. When Colette takes the Midas file for the second time, what does she see that links her to the case and what does she do with it?
4. When Colette is at the park in Chapter Eight, what secret desire is she thinking about, and what stops her from trying to obtain it?
5. In Chapter Five, why are the police being criticized for their handling of Midas's case?
6. When Colette arrives home after her run in Chapter Eight, what do she and Charlie argue about?
7. In Chapter Eight, what memory does Nell suddenly have related to smoking?
8. What is Nell's theory about Token, and why does Colette believe Nell is probably mistaken?
9. How does Chapter One hint at trouble in the narrator's childhood?
10. How do the Prologue and Chapter One characterize the narrator?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
How does the characterization of Scarlett as the novel's villain support the novel's thematic concerns with the role of women in American society? How is her childhood impacted by domestic violence? How does the predatory relationship with her therapist relate to her gender? In what sense is her sex responsible for her bearing a consequence for that relationship that Dr. H does not bear? How does the value that society places on motherhood impact her when she loses her child? What do her final scenes in the novel convey about social pressures on women? Write an essay that analyzes what messages about women's roles are conveyed by the characterization of Scarlett. Support your assertions with evidence drawn from throughout the text; be sure to cite any quoted evidence in MLA format.
Essay Topic 2
The Perfect Mother functions as a piece of entertainment, an intellectual puzzle, and a vehicle for several related social messages. How does Molloy use the conventions of mystery, (such as an opening that hooks the reader by creating questions and suspense, a strong atmosphere, high stakes, an engaging "sleuth," time pressure, clues, misdirection, foreshadowing, etc.) to accomplish one or more of these purposes? Write an essay in which you focus on how Molloy uses the conventions of mystery to entertain the reader, create an engaging puzzle, and/or convey messages about society. Support your assertions with evidence drawn from throughout the text; be sure to cite any quoted evidence and evidence drawn from outside sources in MLA format.
Essay Topic 3
What message about social expectations and motherhood is conveyed through the ironic contrast between the newsletters and the main characters' actual experiences? The women in this novel have voluntarily signed up to be a part of the May Mothers' group, and their actions and dialogue make it clear that, at least initially, they strongly value this group's advice. Why? What does this convey about motherhood in our society? At what point in the novel do the women begin to question the relentless positivity in the newsletters? Is this breaking point different for different characters? Write an essay in which you consider the women's changing reactions to the messages about motherhood contained in the May Mothers' newsletters: what is the meaning of the ironic contrast between these newsletters and the women's actual lives, and what is the meaning conveyed by their gradual alienation from the messages contained in these newsletters? Support your assertions with evidence drawn from throughout the text; be sure to cite any quoted evidence in MLA format.
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This section contains 1,159 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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