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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 Kay do to gauge her mother's response?

2. Why is Kay wanting to sell her house?

3. What does Philip say about Kay since they divorced?

4. What type of barn has Pantaleon built?

5. Where does Kay's mother say Kay was born?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the impact of Coleman's death on Kay and Philip?

2. Who is Coleman Brockway and how did he die?

3. How are Kay and Carriscant to travel and what is her stipulation for taking the trip?

4. What is the setting for the chapter titled "Tongue"?

5. What documentation is left of Kay's biological father?

6. Why does Kay spend many hours with her attorney?

7. What do Kay and Philip think about the other one?

8. Who is Kay Fischer?

9. What does Kay decide about Carriscant and what does she do after deciding this?

10. Who is Pantaleon Quiroga?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1. What is foreshadowing? How many incidences of foreshadowing are in The Blue Afternoon? How does foreshadowing contribute to a book's suspense?

2. Discuss an example of foreshadowing in The Blue Afternoon including why you believe it is foreshadowing. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from The Blue Afternoon and your own live to support your opinion.

Essay Topic 2

Beyond characterizing Kay, none of the architectural themes of Part One recur with decisive impact in the remainder of the narrative. Here, they symbolize a life of precise order, deliberately controlled to reflect simplicity. Yet, Kay's life obviously is not in order--her ex-husband pursues a complicated but uncommitted relationship; her ex-partner has stolen her past work and money; and her lawyer tells her she must sell her own home to stay afloat.

1. How do you see Kay's life in conflict with the order of her thoughts and ideas on architect? Use examples from your life and The Blue Afternoon to support your discussion.

2. Discuss reasons you think Kay allows her ex-husband to take advantage of her? Use examples from your life and The Blue Afternoon to support your discussion.

3. Do you think her issues in her relationship with her ex-husband reflect in what happens to Kay with her business partner? Why or why not? Use examples from your life and The Blue Afternoon to support your discussion.

Essay Topic 3

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think The Blue Afternoon is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 911 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample