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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. Why hasn't Garry sent flowers to Mona?

2. What is the narrator's dilemma in the poem "Dilemma"?

3. Why does the narrator refuse to count sheep?

4. Why does the narrator in "Thought for a Sunshiny Morning" not mind stepping on a worm?

5. What does the poem "Superfluous Advice" suggest about gossip?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. Describe Mr. Cruger's attitude toward his daughter in the story "Horsie."

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

7. Compare the poems "Surprise," "On Being A Woman," and "Second Love." What do they have in common?

8. Compare the poems "Bric-A-Brac," "Fulfillment," and "Theory." What do these poems have in common?

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

10. Explain the allusions in the poem "Guinevere At Her Fireside."

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Dorothy Parker's poetic style. How does she use rhyme, rhythm, and sound? How does she use suspense and irony? How would you describe the tone and mood of her poetry? What are some common themes that she deals with? Be sure to use specific examples, especially quotations, to support your description.

Essay Topic 2

Choose two characters from different short stories that seem to share similar traits and analyze their similarities and differences. How do these similarities influence their respective stories? What do these character's reveal about the author's attitude toward her topic? Be sure to include specific examples and quotations in order to support your observations.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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