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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 is the narrator afraid of about revealing his or her relationship with Louise?

2. According to the narrator, why do married women have affairs?

3. According to Louise, who has said "I love you" to many people?

4. How does the narrator believe Louise feels about Elgin?

5. Who does Jacqueline attack?

Short Essay Questions

1. Do you think that Jacqueline's character will play a larger role in the novel? Why or why not?

2. Why is Louise still with Elgin despite his quirks?

3. Why can't Elgin work directly with patients?

4. What is the significance behind not knowing the name and gender of the narrator?

5. Describe how the narrator changes from before meeting Louise to after breaking up with Jacqueline. What does this say about the narrator?

6. Why does Louise refuse the narrator's affection?

7. Describe Jacqueline.

8. According to the narrator, why would Louise appreciate having an affair?

9. According to the narrator, why do married women have affairs?

10. By the end of the narrator's relationship with Jacqueline, does he or she still believe that marriage is the end of passion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Louise's character. What risks are involved in dating her? Is Louise similar to any of the narrator's former lovers? What might be foreshadowing the narrator's relationship with Louise?

Essay Topic 2

Is the narrator a reliable storyteller? Why or why not? What pushes you to believe the narrator has a reason to be unreliable?

Essay Topic 3

What are Elgin's intentions in sending Louise away? Why can the reader see the situation more clearly than the narrator can? Why is the narrator able to leave Louise?

(see the answer keys)

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