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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. The title of Chapter 2: "A Happy Death," alludes to a novel written by what author?

2. What is the name of the author's youngest brother?

3. Where did Bruce Bechdel marry his wife?

4. Where was the author in Europe when she convinced her parents for the right to trade a tank suit for shorts at the beach?

5. What film does the author describe her parents taking the family to see when it opened in 1974?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What symbolism does the author illuminate in her father's library in Chapter 3?

3. What literary allusion is tied to lilacs in Chapter 4?

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

5. What facts are established through the author's exposition in Chapters 1 and 2?

6. What does the title of Chapter 2, "A Happy Death" allude to?

7. From what narrative perspective is Fun Home related? Why do you think the author chose this perspective?

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

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

10. How does the author describe her parents' first meeting in Chapter 3?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of homosexuality in Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. How does the author develop this theme through setting, characterization, action, symbolism, and imagery? How does the author describe coming to terms with her homosexuality? How does she relate to her father's homosexuality?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the style of the illustrations in Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. What colors predominate the images? Why do you think these colors were chosen? How do the pictures in the book help the reader relate to the story?

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