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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 did Lessing begin to eat less during meals?

2. What was the black population of Salisbury?

3. When did Gottfried Lessing arrive in Southern Rhodesia?

4. What affliction struck all members of Lessing's family except her?

5. What did Lessing do most afternoons with the new baby?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did John react to the birth of his little sister?

2. What conditions did Lessing ponder as possible circumstances that would have changed her views on Communism?

3. Describe Lessing's ultimate assessment of the impact of the Communist Party in Southern Rhodesian politics.

4. In Chapter 18, what circumstances prevented Lessing from getting much writing done?

5. In Chapter 12, how does Lessing describe her first son, John?

6. What did Lessing realize when she was diagnosed with Low Fever and sent to the mountains to recover?

7. What rationale did Lessing give for her marriage to Gottfried Lessing in Chapter 14?

8. Ultimately, why did Lessing think that she and Gottfried were mismatched?

9. Describe Lessing's reaction to the end of World War II.

10. Describe Lessing's activities in Capetown in Chapter 17.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

As Lessing recounted the details of her young adult life, she commented on the institution of marriage through a discussion of her three unsuccessful unions. Examine Lessing's position on marriage and divorce in the text. Was her notion of marriage and divorce congruent with the notion of marriage and/or divorce at that time? If not, how did her opinion vary? What were her messages regarding marriage and divorce customs in the British Empire at that time?

Essay Topic 2

In this section of the autobiography, Lessing detailed her progression to sexual awakening and maturity. Analyze Lessing's developing notions on sexuality in that section of her life story. How did she view sexuality? How did her views differ from the majority of those in her community? How did Lessing derive those notions of sexuality? Provide details from the text.

Essay Topic 3

As Lessing reached early adulthood, she moved in very cosmopolitan circles of society. Where did that cosmopolitanism attribute of hers originate? How did the diversity within her social circles contribute to the political and intellectual positions assumed by members of those groups? In what ways were cosmopolitan circles limited?

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This section contains 878 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample