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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. Chapter One takes place in which month?

2. Which character does Lizzie's mother warn not to watch too much political news that may be upsetting?

3. Most people at Margot's meditation class want to know about what subject?

4. What was Catherine's drug of choice before she got sober?

5. Which birthday is Lizzie approaching in Chapter One?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ben do for Lizzie on her birthday?

2. What time of year is it by the time Chapter One comes to a close?

3. Characterize the relationship between Lizzie and her brother Henry.

4. What act of altruism does Lizzie fondly remember from the night she gave birth to Eli?

5. What is the significance of William Derham's 1711 quote, when viewed in the context of Sylvia's hope for the future?

6. What habit does Henry adopt when Catherine's due date draws near?

7. Discuss an instance when the motif of dreams enters the narrative of Chapter Two.

8. What new development occurs in Henry's life in Chapter One?

9. For what reason does Offill include Mohan's opinions about the upcoming election in Chapter Two?

10. Who is Sylvia?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Offill’s use of metaphor, simile, imagery, and other literary devices as a means to send particular thematic messages within the narrative of Weather: A Novel.

Essay Topic 2

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

Essay Topic 3

Look carefully at the passages of Weather: A Novel that describe the close relationship between Lizzie and her husband Ben. What is Offill’s purpose for discussing at length the nature of the connection that has been forged within their marriage?

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