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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 is Firdaus unlike other inmates?

2. What did Sheikh Mahmoud deprive Firdaus of?

3. What did Firdaus' father teach her to do that replaces her mother's job?

4. How did Firdaus manage her life at the Sheikh Mahmoud and her uncle's homes?

5. What year is "Women and Neurosis in Egypt" published?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Firdaus' initial reaction to El Saadawi's interest in her story?

2. Why did Firdaus' uncle return Firdaus to Sheikh Mahmoud?

3. What happened at Firdaus' graduation ceremony? Why did she freeze?

4. How did Sheikh Mahmoud treat Firdaus?

5. How did Firdaus react after spending the night with Sheikh Mahmoud ? Why did she react this way?

6. Who is Bayoumi and how did he help and hurt Firdaus?

7. What is the doctor's opinion of Firdaus?

8. Why did Firdaus' uncle not want to send her to the university? What did his wife suggest?

9. Why was Firdaus sent to jail?

10. Why is El-Saadawi interested in studying prison settings?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define the term flashback. How does El Saadawi use flashbacks in her book? Provide two examples of flashbacks and how they help the reader relate to Firdaus.

Essay Topic 2

What is symbolism and how did El Saadawi use it in her book? Provide two examples of symbolism and what they mean to the story.

Essay Topic 3

How does description play a role in an author's work? How does the author use description to draw the reader into the story? What are some examples where the description does not work?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 676 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample