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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 did the Bad Priest do that infuriates Fausto Maijstral?

2. What does Winsome fear that Mafia is doing that he tells Rachel?

3. What is the name of Fausto Maijstral's dead wife?

4. What does Rachel ask Benny Profane's help in procuring that he suggests she borrow from Winsome?

5. What did the ballerina forget to wear that would have prevented the horrible accident that occurred to her?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does fate appear to intervene in the life of Benny Profane in Chapter 8?

2. What unfortunate accident occurs to Melanie L'Heuremandi?

3. What happens to V. in Paris?

4. Why does Esther have trouble in her relationship with the plastic surgeon?

5. What is Paola's relationship with men in Chapter 8?

6. What does Fausto Mijstral reveal in his letter to his daughter Paola?

7. Why is Rachel disappointed in Benny?

8. How does V. appear in Chapter 9 and what does this say about her or her role?

9. Why is Rachel worried about Esther?

10. Why is Stencil afraid to go to Malta?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the role of women in Virginia in the1950s when the women in the stories are living their lives. What precedents do they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do they have? What freedoms did they have that 21st century women may not have?

Essay Topic 2

The author uses more than one iteration on the motif of life-death-life. Identify at least two examples of the motifs about life-death-life in the book.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Rachel and Paola, two women that Benny Profane gets involved with. What are the main differences between them? Which made the better partner and why? What are strengths and weaknesses of each?

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