View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does the carriage driver in Chapter 23 offend Sharif?

2. Which character is 'Omar attracted to in Chapter 21?

3. Who is Zeinab?

4. Which characters prepare Anna on her "Henna Day"?

5. What fear does 'Omar have about his relationship with Isabel?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Zeinab think of Anna?

2. What fear does Sharif have for Nur's future?

3. How does Emily react to Anna's decision to marry Sharif?

4. Why does Anna feel her baby is in the balance against the ills of the world?

5. How does Anna's story affect Amal's future?

6. What atrocity begins with the death of a few pigeons?

7. What complications might arise with Anna and Sharif's marriage?

8. Why does 'Omar refuse to continue his relationship with Isabel in Chapter 22?

9. Why do Anna and Sharif argue in Chapter 22?

10. How does Tareq help Amal and the fellaheen in Chapter 26?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What ironies are evident in the novel? What irony does Amal's family experience throughout the novel? What ironies are present in the "Entente cordiale" and subsequent political agreements? How is irony used to view the cycle of political and social/personal oppression suffered by the Egyptians?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Anna and Amal. What aspects of Anna are evident in Amal before she reads the journals? How does Amal's research into Anna's life affect her character?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the role of education in the novel. What roles do gender, politics, and religion have on education? In light of all these factors, where do most upper class Egyptians send their children to school, and why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,182 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample