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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. Where is Lux Lisbon's body found?

2. Which of his daughters does Mr. Lisbon see eating M&Ms and feel as if she is a stranger?

3. What is Lux observed doing on the roof of the house?

4. Whose car do the boys take to the dance?

5. What song's lyrics are published in the newspaper as a possible cause of the Lisbon girls' suicides?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Lux taken by ambulance to the hospital?

2. Describe the physical changes happening to the Lisbon home.

3. How does Mr. Lisbon's behavior at school change after Cecilia's suicide?

4. What is Dr. Hornicker's opinion of Lux after meeting with her in the hospital?

5. Why is Trip so flummoxed by his attraction to Lux?

6. How do the boys spend the early part of the evening on June 15?

7. Describe the state of the Lisbons' basement on June 15th.

8. How did Lux's date end?

9. Describe Mr. Lisbon's vision of a ghost.

10. How did the three older girls end their evening at the dance?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Trip Fontaine is a central character in the Lisbon girls' story, especially Lux's. Compare and contrast his life with that of the Lisbon girls. What is his purpose in the novel? What does he represent to the girls, and to their parents, and to the town as a whole?

Essay Topic 2

One of the major themes of The Virgin Suicides is grief. How do different characters in the novel deal with their grief? Are some ways more effective than others? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Jeffrey Eugenides opens the book with the last Lisbon girl's suicide. How does that set the tone for the novel? Is it helpful to the reader or does it take away from the story?

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