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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 Peder say Miri does not have to do while using quarry-speech?

2. Who is Britta?

3. What does Peder say about quarry work?

4. Why does Miri wonder about Britta's motives?

5. For what will the girls be punished at the academy?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Miri use Diplomacy when they return to the academy and what is Olana's response?

2. What happens when Miri tries to be a trader?

3. What startles Miri awake one morning and why is she unsettled?

4. Describe the girls' first day at the academy.

5. What do Bena and Liana think of the village boys and of what do they accuse Miri?

6. Why does Olana punish Miri?

7. What more does Miri learn about quarry-speech and Linder from Marda and her pa?

8. What are the results of the next test and of what does Bena accuse the fourteen-year-olds?

9. What does Miri wonder about what Pa thinks about Marda not attending the academy?

10. How does Miri discover that Britta cannot hear quarry speech?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter Fourteen the girls are dealing with their expanded knowledge of the world: they do not want to betray their families in the village, but they now need to satisfy their curiosities about the outside world. Miri knows that the prince may not like her and she has no desire to marry a stranger, but she does want to be academy princess to prove to everyone else and herself that she can be good at something. She has long been disappointed about not being able to work in the mines, convinced she is too small and weak and is a burden to her family and the village.

1. Why do you think learning to read has changed the girls' perspective on the world? Use examples from the text and your own experiences to support your answer.

2. Miri wants to prove to everyone and herself she is good at something. This is called external validation. Discuss what you think is the difference between having to have others think that you are good at something in order to feel good about yourself as opposed to feeling good about yourself no matter what others think. Use examples from the text and your own experiences to support your answer.

3. How do you think feeling that she is small, weak and a burden on her village has affected Miri as a person? Use examples from the text and your own experiences to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Shannnon Hale.

2. What in Hale's background may have helped him in writing "Princess Academy"? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in "Princess Academy". 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 Hale chooses the symbols he 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 Hale chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Hale'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 Hale 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).

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