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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 torments Mansour?

2. Where do Mansour and Doreya next meet?

3. What does Zohra explain to Mansour about the fight in the hall?

4. What does Sarhan say he and Zohra have in common?

5. Where does Mansour think Zohra should do?

Short Essay Questions

1. When does Sarhan first see Zohra and what does he do?

2. What is Mansour's further impression of Zohra and how does he feel towards her?

3. What does Mansour impulsively do when he meets Doreya at the zoo?

4. What are Mansour's first impressions of Zohra?

5. Briefly describe Mansour's meeting with his longtime friend Fawzi.

6. Why does Doreya say Mansour is four years too late and what is his response?

7. How does Sarhan's relationship with Aleya develop?

8. Describe the fight with Safeya, Zohra and Sarhan from Sarhan's perspective.

9. How does Ali convince Sarhan to join him in the heist?

10. What do Mansour and Amer discuss one night?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book is more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and sometimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "Miramar" is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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