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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 station of the person raising Sierva?

2. What are Bernarda Cabrera's two drugs of choice?

3. What date does Dr. Abrenuncio give for Bernarda's death?

4. Where does the next scene of chapter one take place?

5. How did Judas and Bernarda meet?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is special about the tall slave girl brought into New Grenada from the ship?

2. What does Dr. Abrenuncio believe about Sierva and her brush with rabies and what treatment does he recommend?

3. Describe Bernarda and Ygnacio's relationship with Sierva.

4. What treatments does Sierva receive in her father's effort to cure her "madness?"

5. How does Ygnacio's first wife deal with her husband?

6. Describe the character of the Bishop.

7. Why does Sierva lie to Dr. Abrenuncio?

8. Why does Sierva prefer to live in the slave quarters instead of the mansion?

9. What condition does the beginning of the book find Bernarda in and why?

10. What happens to Sierva while in the marketplace?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Citing specific examples from the text, discuss the author's use of magic realism in this novel. In what ways does the author make this story true to life? In what ways is this story fantastical? (Please note that the term "fantastical" encompasses more than just the miracle of Sierva's hair growing after death and is meant as something that likely could not happen in real life).

Essay Topic 2

Citing specific examples from the text, write an essay discussing one of the following:

- Bernarda as a symbol of New Grenada's decay.

- The use of dogs as objects of fear as opposed to faithful companions.

- Sierva's Santeria jewelry and their representation of a non-biased person.

Essay Topic 3

This novel is something of a Biblical allegory. Citing specific examples from the text, discuss how this novel mirrors the Bible, including (but not limited to) a Christ- like figure, sacrifice for the benefit of others, and persecution. Cite specific examples from the text to support your statements.

(see the answer keys)

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