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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. How does Irene conclude that Brian and Clare are having an affair?
2. Why is Irene offended by Clare's use of a PO Box for a return address?
3. Helga chooses to remain
4. What is a personality trait of Clare's that stands out in Irene's mind?
5. Irene Redfield does not
Short Essay Questions
1. How does this time in Helga's life compare to other times? Is it similar or different? In what ways?
2. What kind of parent is Clare Kendry? What are the clues, thus far, that help us to draw conclusions about her parenting abilities? How has Larsen informed us about this?
3. What is the burden that these characters carry with them throughout the story?
4. Speculate on why Clare is silent at the Redfield dinner table, but talkative and gregarious a parties with others. Does she have a split personality, or is she just shy at the Redfields'? How does Larsen let on what is going on without saying it?
5. How did her religion help Helga through difficult times?
6. What is your initial assessment of Clare Kendry? Do we know enough about her in these first two chapters to draw any conclusions about her? If so, what would they be?
7. What do we learn about the marriage of Irene and Brian Redfield in this chapter? Is it healthy? Is it durable? Why, or why not?
8. What role, if any, does Clare's husband play in the story so far? Is he a comforting presence? Why, or why not? Is he a likable character?
9. Is there anything we can deduce about Irene's response to Clare's letter without knowing the whole story? If so, what are they?
10. What, exactly, does Irene fervently wish John Bellew could know? Why?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Compare and contrast Helga Crane with Clare Kendry, then expand on the theme of these two stories. How are the two stories alike? How are they different? Compare Helga Crane with Irene Redfield, and then with Clare Kendry. Between which of the two is she most like?
Essay Topic 2
From a woman's perspective, did Larsen break ground for or elevate women in her writing? For blacks? For black women? How did Larsen's characters portray women, in general? Was it constructive? Do the characters provide an example of strong, evolving womanhood? Why, or why not?
Essay Topic 3
Who is Hugh Wentworth? What is his role in Larsen's writing? Do a close review of both stories and determine why Larsen includes Wentworth as a character. Is he simply a literary device for her? What does he represent?
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This section contains 1,525 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) |
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