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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 does Claire think would be the best for Kate?

2. What news does James deliver to Claire via a phone call?

3. What does Claire's mother say is the balm that will save Claire and James' marriage?

4. Who is James' business partner?

5. How does James try to intimidate Claire into staying?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does James try to make Claire jealous?

2. Describe the scenario when Claire confronts James and ends their marriage.

3. What is the culmination of the evening Claire and Adam spend together at his place?

4. Why is Adam unhappy about Claire's decision to return to James?

5. What living arrangements and custody agreement do Claire and James agree to?

6. What makes Claire cry after her meeting with James?

7. How does Claire shock her mother in Chapter 23?

8. What will guide Claire's ultimate choice in a man?

9. What does James declare to Claire when he returns to her parents' home?

10. What do Claire's mother and sister do to help bolster her confidence prior to her call with James?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

WATERMELON is a classic story of loss and renewal. What does that classification entail? Why does this novel fit into this category? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Betrayal seems to be almost an unnamed character in the book. How pervasive is the sense of betrayal? Why does it have such a prevalent place in Claire's life? Explain how an inanimate object or characteristic can be a character.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the role of the family in WATERMELON. What does it mean for each of the main characters? How does the family evolve in its support of each other? How typical is this family to most Irish families living during the 1990s?

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This section contains 1,104 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample