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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 does Arun decline Rod and his father's invitation to join them?

2. What does Mrs. Patton say she and Arun can do together?

3. Where does Mrs. Patton seem to be able to relax?

4. What is particularly "foreign" to Arun at college?

5. Where does Dr. Dutt want Uma to work?

Short Essay Questions

1. How has Mrs. Patton changed over the course of the summer?

2. What does Arun begin doing and why?

3. What does Mrs. Joshi suggest that Uma consider, and what are Uma's thoughts about it?

4. How does Arun feel when he receives an aerogramme from Papa?

5. What does Melanie say in Chapter 25 about her mother's sunbathing?

6. Describe Arun's first encounter with Melanie Patton.

7. How does Arun feel about his life in the United States?

8. Why is Mama suspicious of Mrs. O'Henry's motives in inviting Uma?

9. How does Arun feel when he finds Mrs. Patton sunbathing one day?

10. To what does Mrs. O'Henry invite Uma, and what do her parents feel about the event?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

a) Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

b) What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Fasting, Feasting and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Fasting, Feasting is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

c) Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an important part of what makes Fasting, Feasting interesting. Discuss any two of the following:

a) Thoroughly discuss and analyze Uma. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

b) Thoroughly discuss and analyze Arun. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

c) Thoroughly discuss and analyze Uma’s father. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

d) Thoroughly discuss and analyze Uma’s mother. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Sometimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action-driven, and sometimes it is the other way around. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

What do you think it means to say that a plot is character-driven? Action-driven? How do you think a plot differs if it is character-driven versus action-driven? Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why? Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not? What type of plot do you think Fasting, Feasting is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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