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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 did Lessing's mother convey her distaste for Emily McVeagh?

2. Where did Lessing's family live before they found property?

3. Which of the following did Lessing delight in telling the other children at the school?

4. How much capital did Lessing's father take to Southern Rhodesia?

5. Which of the following organizations asked Lessing to write a play in the 1950's?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Lessing's parents have all their teeth removed before leaving for Africa?

2. In Chapter 6, what was Lessing's mother's primary concern about the children?

3. What sensation predominated Lessing's childhood?

4. How did Lessing's mother explain the bout of illness that kept her confined to bed?

5. How does Lessing describe her childhood vulnerability?

6. Describe Lessing's outlook on the future of the world and human society.

7. In your opinion, why does Lessing trace her lineage in the opening chapter?

8. While their mother was bedridden, what did Lessing and her brother do?

9. From the details Lessing provides in Chapter 1, describe the circumstances which led to Maude's broken heart.

10. How did Lessing's parents plan to acquire land in Southern Rhodesia?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the same time that Lessing wrote her autobiography, she critically engaged with the strengths and limitations of the form by recounting a valuable form of truth. Explore Lessing's commentary on the autobiography as a genre. What did she believe to be the value in writing her autobiography? What did Lessing perceive to be its limitation? How did exploring Lessing's perspective on the genre that she was using, illuminate the value of the text that resulted from that questioning? What did she ultimately offer her readers with regard to objectivity, subjectivity, or truth? How much more did you know about Lessing herself at the end of her work?

Essay Topic 2

World Wars I and II played a significant role in Lessing's autobiography. Analyze the way in which she grappled with the Wars as historical events; and the repercussions that Europe and the rest of the world faced as a result of those conflicts. How did Lessing portray those effects in the autobiography? How did the Wars differ from other conflicts before them? What was Lessing's opinion regarding those Wars in particular; and the practice of war in general? What reasons did she give for her views on war?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the role of education in Lessing's writings. How was Lessing educated? How did her education affect her views on class, politics, and gender? What was Lessing's opinion of education as an institution? How did she support her opinion of education throughout her autobiography?

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