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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 Dorothy discover when she was 43?

2. Who fulfilled Dorothy's maternal need?

3. What group did Dorothy co-found in 1936?

4. What job did Alan scheme to get for Dorothy?

5. What did the studios give to Dorothy and Alan that suit them perfectly?

Short Essay Questions

1. What significant event happened to Dorothy's relationship with Robert Benchley in 1937?

2. Dorothy purchased two dogs while in Europe. What role in Dorothy's life did these dogs fill? Why did she feel she needed canine companionship?

3. What about Dorothy and Alan's relationship changed after Alan went to basic training?

4. What was so controversial about Dorothy's pregnancy? What was unique about her reaction to her miscarriage?

5. What about working in Hollywood did Dorothy find relieving?

6. Dorothy was happy with Alan, but what about her life wasn't fulfilling?

7. In 1967, Marcella Cisney proposed to Dorothy the production of "A Dorothy Parker Portfolio", Dorothy gave her full support. How did this production give Dorothy the last say in her life?

8. Dorothy was advised to write a will, though her assets were modest. Who did Dorothy leave her estate to? What all did her estate include?

9. What about Norma Place was strange to Dorothy? How did it make her uncomfortable?

10. Dorothy involved her time and money in several "causes." What causes did she get involved in and what did society think about her involvement?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What was the overall theme of Dorothy Parker's life? What about her childhood set the tone for her life and how did she use her childhood experiences as fuel for her writing? Use examples from the book and your own thoughts.

Essay Topic 2

Dorothy had an unhealthy attitude toward death, even from childhood. Her many suicide attempts and casual attitude about death proved this. What reason did Dorothy have from her childhood gave her the attitude about mortality that she did?

Essay Topic 3

In her last days, Dorothy's lifelong friends had either passed away or are only available in times of crisis. How did her so-called friends show their true colors after Dorothy passed away? Provide examples from the book in addition to your own thoughts.

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