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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 transpiring as the tall woman talks to her husband on the phone at her hotel?

2. Why does the tall woman's husband refuse to make love to her?

3. Describe the man the tall woman meets at her hotel when she leaves her husband in "Sirocco."

4. What does Maria believe about Novalis's new paintings and enthusiasm?

5. What part of Edna fascinates Robert the most?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to the woman in the crowd while awaiting the Russian execution?

2. Describe Robert and Dorothy's relationship from the time to they meet until the time they first make love.

3. What are Lina's views on lesbianism?

4. What is a sirocco and how does it affect the narrator?

5. Why does Louis walk to the beach in "The Woman on the Dunes"?

6. How is Maria finally able to overcome her aversion to sensuality?

7. Why will Maria never allow her husband to see her nude and rarely poses for him?

8. What are the differing opinions given on why Lina behaves the way she does with the narrator?

9. Describe Dorothy and Edna in "Two Sisters."

10. What happens have Lina, Michel, and the narrator sleep together?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the marriage of Novalis and Maria in terms of their fantasies for one another. Develop a clear thesis statement and be sure to discuss the following (though not exclusively): Novalis's attraction to "Maja Desnuda" and Maria's resemblance to that model, Maria and Novalis's conflicting desires, Maria's conservatism (as well as Novalis's reactions to this), and the changes within their relationship throughout the story. Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the role of age and youth in these stories in the following format:

Part 1) The young brides.

Part 2) The sexually adventurous teenagers.

Part 3) The conflicts that arise from partners with a distinct age difference.

Part 4) The cultural differences in youth

Part 5) The compromises within the relationships, as well as the fate of the relationship.

Some of the stories that should definitely be discussed (but not exclusively) include "Saffron," "Sirocco," "a Model," and "Runaway." Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the role sexual frustration plays in these characters' lives, as well as the causes of this and their eventual remedy for it in the following format:

Part 1) Louis from "the Woman on the Dunes" and Robert and Donald from "Two Sisters."

Part 2) Rango's frustration with Hilda.

Part 3) The husband from "Sirocco" and Albert from "Saffron" and how their actions hurt their wives (be sure to also discuss how their wives eventually deal with these situations and how it affects the marriages).

Part 4) Lina. Discuss not only the possibility of her inability to identify as a woman, but her enjoyment of having sex with both Michel and the narrator.

Part 5) The narrator in "a Model." Focus especially on her attempt to give her virginity to her boyfriend as well as her relationships with the artists.

(see the answer keys)

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