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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 Hosny think he should keep busy?

2. Where does Hosny go for a night of alcohol and sex?

3. What does he think Mariana is?

4. How old is Amer Wagdi when he returns to his old residence?

5. Of what does Hosny become convinced after talking with Mariana about Zohra?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Hosny's attitude towards Zohra change?

2. What is Hosny's next encounter with Zohra and how does he react?

3. Describe Sarhan al-Beheiry.

4. Describe the encounter between Zohra, Hosny and Sarhan.

5. With whom does Hosny hook up after leaving the Umm Kulthum at intermission, and what is the woman's advice to him?

6. What do Amer and Mariana complain about and plan?

7. About what is Amer dreaming when he hears a ruckus in the hallway?

8. How does Hosny feel about old people?

9. What commotion in the hallway does Hosny respond to, and what does he do?

10. How do Zohra and Amer have a chance to talk and how does Zohra feel about the two older, male boarders?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Certainly "Miramar" considers the subject of gender. Discuss the following:

1. Define the term "gender."

2. Does gender only refer to whether a person is male or female? Is gender easy to identify?

3. Discuss the Egyptian cultural definitions of gender during the era of "Miramar" and the expectations for each gender. Do any of those expectations exist today?

4. Would you like to live in a culture that has those expectations for men and women that are revealed in the book? Discuss fully with examples from the text.

5. Are women the only ones harmed by gender-based expectations? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

Naguib Mahfouz has tried as much as possible to use historical events and facts around which to weave his work of fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think "Miramar" qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If much of the events in the book are historical, what surprises you about the way the events play out?

3. What surprises you about the culture of late 1960s Egypt?

Essay Topic 3

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss one of the following in relation to The Awakening:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Sarhan al-Beheiry and Hosny Allam. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Is either man's beliefs more worthy than the other? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Sarhan al-Beheiry and Mansour Bahy. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how two of the secondary characters help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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