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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. In the poem "The Danger of Writing Defiant Verse," what does the narrator realize about her new lover?

2. What is the one "edged" thing in the poem "Midnight"?

3. What does Mona say is wrong with her?

4. What does the narrator of "Requiescat" pray "will not rise again"?

5. In "The Willow," during what month is the earth "sweet" and "young."

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the lesson behind the poem "Parable for a Certain Virgin"?

2. What is the complaint that is raised in the poem "Penelope"?

3. In the short story "The Last Tea," why does the girl brag about the evening that she had the night before?

4. Explain the allusions in the poem "Prayer for a New Mother."

5. How does the resolution of "Big Blonde" illustrate that Hazel's troubles are recurrent cycle?

6. What is the cause of Mr. and Mrs. Weldon's divorce in the short story "Too Bad"?

7. How does the narrator of "Lady With a Lamp" make Mona feel worse rather than better?

8. What kind of advice do the poems "Prologue to a Saga" and "The Lady's Reward" give to women?

9. Explain the irony in "Ninon de Lenclos, On Her Last Birthday."

10. Describe the narrator's tone in the story "Just a Little One."

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Dorothy Parker's writing style in her essays. How does this style compare to her short stories and poetry? How do her tone and word choice compare? What types of imagery does she use? How does her writing style influence the effectiveness of her essays? Be sure to include specific examples and quotations to support your observations.

Essay Topic 2

Dorothy Parker often portrays the relationship between men and women as adversarial. Support this observation by providing and analyzing evidence from both her short stories and her poetry. Be sure to use specific examples and quotations when appropriate.

Essay Topic 3

Dorothy Parker is well-known for her use of verbal irony, both in her conversations and in her writing. Examine Parker's use of verbal irony in her short stories, poems, and essays. How does her use of verbal irony result in a unique and recognizable style? Include examples and quotations to illustrate this style.

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