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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. In Chapter 1, why does Alessandra sneak into the artist's rooms?

2. In Chapter 4, what does Alessandra work on painting?

3. How does Alessandra feel about her father going on the trip with the painter in Chapter 1?

4. Why does Alessandra dress up in Chapter 12?

5. Why does Alessandra sneak out of the chapel in Chapter 8?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Cristoforo show Alessandra after they are married?

2. What does Alessandra do after sitting for the painter for the first time?

3. What makes Alessandra think that Cristoforo will understand her desire to paint?

4. In Chapter 9, how does Alessandra feel when she wakes up?

5. What happens when Alessandra sneaks into the painters rooms in Chapter 1?

6. In Chapter 7, what does Alessandra's family gossip about?

7. In Chapter 1, what does Alessandra's father relationship with the painter represent?

8. What happens when Alessandra tries to paint in Chapter 4?

9. In Chapter 16, what happens when Alessandra sneaks out of the house?

10. In "Prologue," what happens after Sister Lucrezia dies?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the role of sacrifice in The Birth of Venus.

Essay Topic 2

What role does infidelity play in The Birth of Venus? How does the author portray infidelity as a positive thing? As a negative thing?

Essay Topic 3

Trace Alessandra's relationship with the painter throughout this novel. How is this relationship affected by outside forces? How is it shaped by inside forces? Which do you think are most powerful?

(see the answer keys)

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