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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 does the woman dream about?

2. How does the woman react when the man asks her to leave her husband?

3. What does Iris say she finds most memorable about her time on the ship save for her interactions with her sister?

4. Who does Iris suspect might be Myra's true father?

5. A newspaper article details the maiden voyage of what ship?

Short Essay Questions

1. In chapter 10, the woman imagines the man in a variety of situations. Describe one of these situations.

2. What does Laura say in chapter 11 that upsets Winifred?

3. According to chapter 9, why is Laura afraid of her father?

4. According to the article at the beginning of chapter 12, what are Richard's views about Germany?

5. How does Aimee respond to Iris's decision?

6. At the end of the chapter, Iris hears something outside her window. What does she think it is and what is it really?

7. According to chapter 10, what is the political climate in Spain?

8. What is the woman's attitude while aboard the cruise ship?

9. Why do you think Iris has 'The Blind Assassin' published?

10. In chapter 13, why does Walter come over to Iris's house?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In chapter 7, Iris says "the only way to write the truth is to assume that what you write down will never be read," yet she herself is ultimately writing with a particular audience in mind, Sabrina. Do you agree or disagree with Iris's statement? Why or why not? Furthermore, do you think that Iris's actions support her statement? Consider both Iris's memoir and her novel as examples of her writing. Is the novel true or not? She says that she originally writes it only for herself but then eventually publishes it, thus giving it to other people. How does this affect the truth contained within it?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the novel, Iris toys with the idea that people are compelled to leave their mark on the world, whether this is through actions, or leaving behind a message, or simply scrawling on the stall of the bathroom at a doughnut shop. Find at least three examples of times in which Iris reflects on the idea of leaving a mark. What is the significance of these passages in terms of the novel and sub novel? What do these say about Iris's own desire to leave something behind? What does Iris's refusal to share things about Laura say? Does this mean Iris thinks Laura would not have wanted to leave her mark in the same way she asserts all people do?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel, the characters, particularly Laura and Iris, make decisions because they are misinformed or ignorant. Discuss the significance of ignorance and oblivion in the novel. According to the woman, she is with the man for oblivion. Does this oblivion necessitate the ignorance regarding the events taking place around her? In what ways does oblivion or ignorance help the characters and in what way does it hinder them? On the other hand, are there any instances in which knowledge is a hindrance?

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