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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. Who is staring angrily at Thérèse as the front door opens?

2. What do the girls do after being exhausted from fighting?

3. Who claims to see the devil hiding behind the curtains?

4. Why does Victorine still hate the Germans?

5. What does Baptiste do to gain the attention of the two girls?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the relationship between Baptiste and Léonie developed in this chapter?

2. In "The Gray Silk Nightshirt," as the two women sit and chat in Thérèse's room, what is revealed overtly or implied about their relationship and each woman as individuals?

3. How is it intimated that parts of the house are "open," and other parts "secreted," just as the two girls are open in some ways and secretive in others?

4. To what do you think Léonie's fears are related in the chapter "The Nightlight"?

5. In the chapter, "The Holdall," how does what Léonie finds while going through Thérèse's things demonstrate the differences between the two women?

6. In the chapter, "The Silver Cake Tray," what do you think is the significance of the shrine?

7. In the chapter "The Photographs," what in the photographs displayed again reveals the different focus of the two women when they are girls?

8. What do you think that the emptiness in the air about Léonie means?

9. Describe Thérèse's dream of Antoinette.

10. What story does Léonie tell Baptiste and what is his response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are many statements throughout this novel about church, Jesus, Christianity, and in particular, Mary, the mother of Jesus. Additionally, reference is made about Jews, though the Jewish religion is not mentioned too much. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. Take three characters and trace their references to religion throughout the novel. Evaluate how strongly each character feels about his/her spiritual life and what each believes. Be sure to cite specific examples to support your statements.

2. Compare and contrast the way the main characters and the village people view Christianity versus Judaism and Christians versus Jews. Be sure to cite specific examples to support your statements.

3. Is this novel about religion and spirituality? If references to religious ideas and beliefs were removed, how substantially would the novel be impacted? Discuss using specific examples.

Essay Topic 2

There are two sides to the Martin house. One side is proper and presentable, and the other is full of darkness and threatening secrets. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. Describe both parts of the Martin house and list some of the imagery associated with each part.

2. Can the Martin house be an analogy for humans, i.e., we all have a "dark" and a "light" side to our personalities. Discuss yourself or someone you know and the traits that's that you consider dark or light and show how those traits can be said to belong to one part of the Martin home or the other. Explain why you assign a trait to one side or the other.

3. Literature is replete with the idea that life is duality--good or evil, hot or cold, sad or joyful.... But much of life rather than being a duality is various shades or mixtures of opposites. Talk about this idea and use examples both from Daughters of the House and your own experiences.

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 16, Victorine and Thérèse are condescending about Léonie's attitudes and tastes, and Léonie feels what it is like to be discriminated against. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. Discuss the theme of discrimination in the novel, giving specific examples of occurrences throughout the novel (possible areas: class, Nationality, and ethnic origins, as in Jews).

2. Discuss the theme of discrimination for one major group as it occurs in your culture (class, race, sexual orientation, religion, handicapped, etc).

3. Discuss how discrimination has occurred in your own life or that of someone you know well. Include how you feel about it, what you may do to help the person or yourself, and what might help eradicate the discrimination.

(see the answer keys)

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