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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 language are the books that Bill gives the narrator?

2. What convinces Ellen to sleep with Nicholas?

3. From what point of view is Blow told from?

4. Where does the narrator of Blow go with Bill?

5. On her way home, who does Ellen see walking that inspires her?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Bill.

2. Describe the Lust narrator's habits in choosing sexual partners.

3. Describe the relationship between Owen and Tim.

4. What is the difference between men and women in Lust?

5. Describe the narrator in the story Blow.

6. Are Harry, Emma, and Jane sympathetic characters? Why or why not?

7. How does Liz want Owen to change?

8. What is the significance of having an unnamed character in Lust?

9. Describe Bill and the narrator's relationship in Blow.

10. Describe the tone of the story The Break-up.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a critical response to this collection of short stories. What elements of the stories are good? What elements are bad? How would you improve upon the stories if you were the writer?

Essay Topic 2

How does the author use minimalism in these stories? Why do you think Susan Minot writes from a minimalist perspective? Use specific examples from the stories.

Essay Topic 3

What significance does Susan Minot put on tone? What tones are used in the stories, and how is this tone created? Write about three stories and the tone used in them.

(see the answer keys)

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