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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. What is the name of the wealthy son that the heroine of Maria de Nadie falls in love with?

2. What Spanish phrase in the story translates to “bad air”?

3. “Woman Hollering Creek” follows what style of plot structure?

4. Where does author Sandra Cisneros live?

5. Dolores’ husband is said to have died from what in the story?

Short Essay Questions

1. How would you characterize the plot structure of “Woman Hollering Creek”?

2. How does Cleofilas respond to her father’s statement in the opening of the story? Why does she react in this way?

3. What differences does Cleofilas find when she returns home after giving birth to her son?

4. How does Juan Pedro behave toward Cleofilas after he has beaten her for the first time? What is Cleofilas’ response?

5. What about the creek by her house fascinates Cleofilas after her marriage? How does she pursue this matter?

6. How does Cleofilas compare her life to the lives of the heroines of the telenovelas?

7. What is the subject of “Woman Hollering Creek”? Into what genre would you categorize the story?

8. How do dreams and reality contrast in Cleofilas’ marriage to Juan Pedro in “Woman Hollering Creek”?

9. What does Cleofilas consider about her name in comparison with the characters from the telenovelas?

10. What is Cleofilas’ “fatal flaw” in “Woman Hollering Creek”?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Gender roles in “Woman Hollering Creek”

a. Describe the gender roles and expectations of women in the story. How are these roles and expectations symbolized in the narrative? How do they relate to mythology, folklore, and popular culture?

b. Describe and discuss the gender roles and expectations for men in “Woman Hollering Creek.” How do these roles and expectations differ from those of women?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the symbolism and imagery surrounding Dolores’ garden in the story. What is ironic about the narrator’s descriptions of the flowers? What do these flowers represent to Dolores? What do they represent to Cleofilas?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the plot structure and the use of flashbacks and flash-forwards in the narrative of “Woman Hollering Creek.” Why does the author choose to relate the story in this manner? How do these transitions in time and place impact the reader?

(see the answer keys)

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