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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. The unnamed narrator reflects in Los Angeles, 2011 that "every confidence is a kind of" (65) what?

2. Artemisia told the unnamed narrator that Virgilio had committed what crime against her?

3. Whose literary work was the unnamed narrator reading during the summer of 2000?

4. The unnamed narrator and her dark-haired friend interacted with what type of object at the art exhibition?

5. Laura said that Dylan's story about his childhood had made her think he was taking what action in regard to intimacy?

Short Essay Questions

1. What information about the unnamed narrator's romantic life does the reader learn in Italy, 2000?

2. How did the unnamed narrator feel about the dissolution of Laura's marriage?

3. How does the unnamed narrator define "female pain" (43) and what expertise does she have in this subject?

4. What was the subject of the Swedish artist's creations, according to the unnnamed narrator?

5. In what way does Popkey send a message about the dangers of complying with patriarchy-fueled gender norms in the section entitled Ann Arbor, 2002?

6. Describe the four characters featured at the center of the gathering in Ann Arbor, 2002.

7. What was the outcome of the tenant's story in the section entitled Ann Arbor, 2002?

8. How does the unnamed narrator feel about the truth and lies, according to her statements in Los Angeles, 2011?

9. For what reason was the narrator in Italy in the summer of 2000?

10. Discuss a moment in the novel when the unnamed narrator hints or states outright that she may be an unreliable narrator.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sensory details are used frequently by Popkey in order to create vivid pictures of each character's progression through the narrative of Topics of Conversation. Choose three scenes in which sensory details are heavily used and discuss how the sensory details used serve Popkey’s creation of vivid characters to populate the narrative.

Essay Topic 2

What message does Popkey send within the pages of Topics of Conversation concerning the link between secrecy and control?

Essay Topic 3

Explicate the theme of shame within Topics of Conversation. What is Popkey’s message regarding shame and how do you know?

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