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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 final sentence of Ann Arbor, 2002 describes the unnamed narrator's plan to take what action when she gets home?

2. At the opening of the section entitled San Francisco, 2010, the first exhibition of what kind of artist was being shown?

3. Laura told the unnamed narrator that for a man, "telling people what you want makes you" (60) what?

4. What element does the unnamed narrator NOT include within her definition of female pain?

5. Into what type of receptacle did the unnamed narrator urinate in an expression of anger toward John?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did the unnamed narrator view Artemisia during the trip to Italy in 2000 and why?

2. At the end of the section entitled Los Angeles, 2011, the unnamed narrator describes an act she took with a teapot. What was it?

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

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

5. Discuss an instance when Popkey uses the second person point of view to connect with the reader.

6. Describe the interactive element of the Swedish artist's exhibition.

7. For what reason does the unnamed narrator use a hedge maze as a metaphor for Artemisia's life?

8. What emotion does the unnamed narrator name as one that is difficult for women to express?

9. How does the unnamed narrator feel about society's understanding of "the woman as object" versus "the woman as subject" (45)?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a critical essay about Topics of Conversation while using the critical power theory lens of feminist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the novel's treatment of gender roles, the objectification of women, female empowerment, misogyny's role within society, or any other issues related to feminist theory that can be found in the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the ways in which the themes of adaptability and resignation appear within Popkey’s novel Topics of Conversation. What message is Popkey sending about these two themes over the course of the narrative?

Essay Topic 3

How is the theme of desire portrayed in Topics of Conversation? Examine Popkey's treatment of and messages regarding desire throughout the book.

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This section contains 1,117 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample