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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. In Chapter 19, what was the white population of Salisbury?

2. What historical event happened just before the birth of Lessing's daughter?

3. What did all the women assume about Lessing's marriage to Frank?

4. Which group was beginning to infiltrate Salisbury?

5. Which book on the experience of Communism does Lessing cite in this chapter?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Lessing's entrance into love and romance as she describes it in Chapter 10.

2. Describe Lessing's activities in Capetown in Chapter 17.

3. What conditions did Lessing ponder as possible circumstances that would have changed her views on Communism?

4. In Chapter 19, what does Lessing describe as the smartest decision that she ever made?

5. Describe the letter Lessing received from her mother in Chapter 9.

6. Describe the beginning of Lessing's relationship with Gottfried.

7. In Chapter 15, what reason did Lessing give for switching law firms?

8. How did Lessing describe Kurt in Chapter 16?

9. Describe Lessing's reaction to the end of World War II.

10. In Chapter 11, who was Dorothy Schwartz?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In this section of the autobiography, Lessing detailed her progression to sexual awakening and maturity. Analyze Lessing's developing notions on sexuality in that section of her life story. How did she view sexuality? How did her views differ from the majority of those in her community? How did Lessing derive those notions of sexuality? Provide details from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Gender emerges in the autobiography as a determining factor in Lessing's life that influences her behavior and reception as a young woman within her community. Discuss the way in which Lessing portrayed the effect of gender roles on her growing identity. How did Lessing's mother model femininity? How did Lessing act out against or comply with that model of female behavior? How did she seem to define herself as a woman?

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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