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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. Of what material was Bruce Bechtel's tombstone made?

2. To what religion did the author's mother ascribe?

3. What does the word "qualmish" mean in Chapter 3?

4. How far away was the author in college when her father died?

5. How did the author's father die?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the author compare herself with her father in Chapter 1?

2. How does the author describe her father's profession and obsessions in Chapter 1?

3. What mythological allusions does the author make in Chapter 1?

4. What literary allusions does the author make in describing her mother in Chapter 3?

5. How does the author describe Joan in Chapter 3?

6. What symbolism does the author relate to the obelisk in Chapter 2?

7. What allusions are made to the works of F. Scott Fitgerald in Chapter 3?

8. What does the title of Chapter 4, "In the Shadow of the Young Girls in Flower" allude to?

9. What symbolism is related to the Swiss Army knife that appears in Chapter 3?

10. How would you describe the language style of Fun Home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the nonlinear structure of Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. In what ways is the narrative nonlinear? Why do you think the author chose to relate her story in this format? How does the author build tension in a nonlinear narrative style?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the author's allusions to F. Scott Fitzgerald in Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. What correlations does Bechdel make between Fitzgerald and her father? What characters from Fitzgerald does the author associate with Bruce Bechdel? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's allusions to Henry James and his works in Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. Whom does the author associate with Henry James novels? Why? What correlations does she make?

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