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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 Koly notice as they travel to the temple in Vrindavan?

2. What are some of the things that Koly does after Chandra leaves to try and please Sass?

3. What importance do the bandicoot and stray dog have for Koly in Chapter 6?

4. What finally gives Koly the courage to approach the man in the government office about her pension?

5. What do Tanu and Koly think of bangle making?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain how Koly ends up in possession of the Tagore book.

2. Describe the room that Koly stays in at Maa Kamala's.

3. Describe Koly and Sass's first interaction with the rickshaw driver.

4. Describe the two friends that Koly finds in Chapter 6.

5. What is the importance of Koly's visit to the government office in Chapter 6?

6. Describe Koly's financial situation in Chapter 8.

7. Describe Sass's behavior on the train ride to her brother's home.

8. Describe the service run by Maa Kamala's.

9. Explain how Tagore is important to Koly in Chapter 9.

10. What happens on the day that Koly sees the rickshaw driver at the train station, before he brings her to the widow's home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Despite the obvious poor treatment of women in Koly's society, many strong and even influential women appear in the novel. Answer the questions below with support from the novel.

1) Which woman in the story do you consider the strongest, and why?

2) Which woman in the story has the greatest positive impact on Koly? Negative?

3) Which woman in the story seems the happiest? The saddest?

Essay Topic 2

The title Homeless Bird has much significance for Koly. Analyze the meaning of this title for the book, and to Koly. Consider the questions below when formulating your responses.

1)If the Tagore book was not included in the story, would this label have as strong a meaning?

2) What other events or objects in the story make this title significant?

3) What other titles could have been given to this novel?

Essay Topic 3

Consider the impact of good health and illness on the plot line of the story. At what points in the novel does the health of a character result in a major change in the direction of the story? Do any of the characters have choices in the occurrence or in the direction that their lives took at this point? Explain why or why not. Is health or financial status more important to the outcomes of the lives of the characters in this novel? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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