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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 Kate think marriage is a bad idea?

2. Who makes a large purchase from John?

3. What does Kate think is the worst thing that can happen?

4. What does being in New Orleans do to Kate's life?

5. What does Kate wish to be in Chicago?

Short Essay Questions

1. Has John completely abandoned his search?

2. What does John realize about his life search?

3. Why does John think everyone is dead?

4. What does the reader learn about Kate in this section?

5. What has happened since John last saw Kate?

6. Why is Aunt Emily upset with John at the beginning of the chapter?

7. What does John reveal to Aunt Emily?

8. When John talks to Kate, what does she say she was really trying to do?

9. Who has died in John's family?

10. What does John introduce Kate as at the end of his chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1. How is Aunt Emily's letter opener symbolic of the way she feels towards John?

2. Explain why Aunt Emily feels differently towards her nephew. What has he done to change her mind about him?

Essay Topic 2

While the women in John's life obviously make demands of him, the men seem to impose little on John. What is the deeper connection between John and the following characters:

- Lonnie

- John's father

- Harold

Essay Topic 3

Kate and Aunt Emily are two matriarchal figures in John's life that pressure him to make different decisions.

1. Although Kate thinks she is very different than Aunt Emily, how are the characters the same? Why do they control so much of John's thoughts?

2. Explain why Kate is Aunt Emily's foil in the novel.

3. What life choices does Kate pressure John to make? How is her pressuring any different than the high standards that Aunt Emily has for John?

(see the answer keys)

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