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Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. In "Why I Don't Write," what feeling does the narrator say "used to have a ragged pain, sometimes wafty, sometimes sharp as needles" (70)?
2. Throughout "Why I Don't Write," variations of what question are asked several times?
3. In "Boston Common at Twilight," who is Matt?
4. In "Café Mort," what does the narrator guess about the man "with eyes ringed like a raccoon's" (94)?
5. In "While It Lasts," what does Bonnie do for a living?
Short Essay Questions
1. In "While It Lasts," what subject does Isabel keep making bitter jokes about, and why does she do this?
2. In "Boston Common at Twilight," what is implied by the last section of the story, that takes place as Ned grows into adulthood?
3. On page 73 of "Why I Don't Write," what is the effect of the single word change from "I don't read it anymore" to the later item "I don't read anymore"?
4. At the end of "While It Lasts," what does Bonnie realize about her relationship?
5. In "While It Lasts," why does Bonnie think that George is a particularly good match for her?
6. In "While It Lasts," what is Isabel's main complaint about Richard, and what does she think is the cause of the problem?
7. What question begins "Why I Don't Write," and how is this question related to the rest of the story?
8. In "Boston Common at Twilight," what television show does Ned secretly watch? Why does he enjoy it?
9. In the second paragraph of "Why I Don't Write," what is the implication of the list following the phrase "then it all stops" (65)?
10. In "Boston Common at Twilight," why does Ned not try to get away or yell for help?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Some critics point out that Minot's writing appears to come from a place of privilege that marginalizes characters and concerns from outside of white, hetero-normative, middle- and upper-class society. Write an essay that responds in some way to this concern. You may affirm the idea, refute it, or qualify it. Support your ideas with textual evidence; if you use outside sources, cite them in MLA format.
Essay Topic 2
Write an essay in which you make and defend a claim about the significance of the setting in "Polepole." Use textual evidence to support your ideas; if you use outside sources, be sure to cite them in MLA format.
Essay Topic 3
Write an essay that makes and defends a claim about how the techniques of stream-of-consciousness and the catalog support the theme of "Why I Don't Write." Use specific textual evidence to support your ideas.
This section contains 932 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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