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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 does Immers try to give more space in which to grow?

2. Where are the victim(s) shot?

3. Where does Hanna find Rolf the next morning?

4. How did Hanna and her mother once get to a fancy restaurant?

5. What does Hanna decide to do where she goes?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the effect of the painter's actions on Anton and what do the townspeople say about it?

2. From where does Hans-Jurgen escape and who decides to search for him?

3. Who is Veronika and why does she eat all the pastries that Hanna's mother serves?

4. What does Hanna do at the river when she is upset at her father?

5. What happens to a young couple who are in their car and who do the townspeople think is responsible?

6. Who is Hannelore Beier?

7. Why does Hanna's mother feel guilty when she hears about Karin Baum's situation?

8. How does Hanna describe Hannelore's personality?

9. What is Anton Immers' hobby?

10. How does the wife respond to her husband's request and what does Manfred do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of Floating in My Mother's Palm and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in Floating in My Mother's Palm. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Hegi chooses the symbols she does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Hegi chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Hegi's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Hegi use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 3

Floating in My Mother's Palm belongs to the general fiction genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the general fiction genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a general fiction novel and a mystery?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 900 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample