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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. When Casey asks Mary Hand how long she has worked at Iris, Mary responds that she has been there since about what presidential administration?

2. Where was Yasmin born?

3. What does Casey say is the next language she wants to learn in the beginning of the novel?

4. Where had Casey's mother moved back to when Casey was working at the bookstore six years prior to Chapter 1?

5. Where does Luke take Casey to swim when he picks her up in Chapter 3?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Oscar Kolton and how does Casey first meet him?

2. Why does John approach Casey away from his table when his family goes to brunch at Iris in Chapter 15?

3. What history of abandonment affects Casey and influences her actions and emotions?

4. How is Mary Hand described? What is rumored about her?

5. From what narrative perspective is the story related? Why is this important?

6. Why does Oscar come back to speak to Casey after his brunch in Chapter 15? What happens in this encounter?

7. Why is Casey reluctant to pass her manuscript along to Muriel?

8. What happens that makes Casey give up on Silas before they even go out?

9. Where is the novel set? Why is this setting important?

10. What do bees symbolize in the novel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Casey's relationship with Caleb. How much older than Casey is Caleb? Where does he live? How do Caleb and Casey help each other in the course of the story? How does this change their relationship?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following elements of symbolism in Writers & Lovers: golf, bees, and trees. Where does each symbol appear? Does each example represent one or more than one thing? How do the symbols relate to the novel's major themes?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss three examples of irony in Writers & Lovers. What is an example of verbal irony in the text? How does the author use dramatic irony in the story? What situational irony can be seen and what purpose does it serve?

(see the answer keys)

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