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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. Why does Renee invite Paloma into her apartment?

2. What Manuela tell Renee to do to prepare for dinner?

3. Why does Paloma's mother take her to a therapist?

4. What overwhelms Paloma?

5. Why does Renee wear a handkerchief to work?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Renee and Manuela discuss concerning Renee's upcoming dinner date?

2. Briefly describe Renee's dinner with Kakuro.

3. What does Renee think of Kakuro's bathroom and what surprises her about it?

4. What fight does Paloma describe between her mother and another woman?

5. Why does Paloma displease a teacher at her school?

6. With whom does Paloma have tea and how does she respond to the event?

7. Why is Manuela happy about the new tenant?

8. What does Kakuro send Renee and what does she do?

9. What does Paloma find interesting about the new tenant as concerns her mother?

10. How does Renee give herself away as far as her intelligence to the new tenant?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 Muriel Barbery.

2. What in Barbery's background may have helped her in writing "The Elegance of the Hedgehog"? What may have influenced the way she 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 2

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of The Elegance of the Hedgehog, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in "The Elegance of the Hedgehog". (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Renee and Paloma. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Renee and Kakuro. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in "The Elegance of the Hedgehog" help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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