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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. At the climax of the story, who does the narrator think that she has become?

2. Why does the narrator believe that the figure in the wallpaper is inactive during the day?

3. The story covers the span of what season?

4. Why does the narrator stop looking out the windows?

5. Why can’t the figure in the pattern escape?

Short Essay Questions

1. The narrator considers burning the house down to “reach the smell.” What does this say about her condition?

2. What are some indications that the narrator is, in fact, not getting better?

3. How is the narrator’s behavior changing because of her obsession?

4. What is the wallpaper’s odor a metaphor for?

5. The narrator believes the wallpaper has an odor. How does she describe the odor?

6. Why have the narrator and her husband rented the summer house?

7. What major life event has the narrator just endured?

8. Who does the narrator want to help save the woman in the wallpaper?

9. The narrator briefly considers jumping out the window. Why does she decide against it?

10. How does the narrator say John feels about intangible things?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does the narrator remain unnamed in the story? What does this symbolize?

Essay Topic 2

How does the narrator’s perception of her husband change? What is the evidence of this within the text?

Essay Topic 3

As the story progresses, the narrator acts more and more like a child. What actions support this statement? How do others treat her differently as the she changes?

(see the answer keys)

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