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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 has become a "bitterness" for the narrator if "Iseult of Brittany"?

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

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

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

5. How does Mrs. Murdock feel about her dress as she leaves her visit with Miss Noyes and Lily Wynton?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. In "Soldiers of the Republic," what does the narrator learn about the life of a soldier?

4. Compare the poems "Star Light, Star Bright--" and "Purposely Ungrammatical Love Song." How are they similar?

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

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

7. In the poem "The Last Question," what is the purpose of the italicized lines?

8. In the story, "Lady With a Lamp," what is Mona's illness?

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

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

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.

Essay Topic 2

Social equality is a common theme in Dorothy Parker's work. Explain how she uses her short stories, poetry, and essays to attack racism and promote racial equality. Include specific examples and quotations to help support your points.

Essay Topic 3

Suicide plays a recurring role in many of Dorothy Parker's poems and in some short stories. Examine the role that suicide plays in both her poetry and her short stories. What seems to be her attitude toward suicide and those who attempt or commit it? What circumstances drive characters toward suicide? How do these details compare to Parker's own life? How might her own experiences have influenced her writing?

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