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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 Manuela tell Renee to do to prepare for dinner?

2. What is Renee careful about as she walks to Kakuro's apartment?

3. What color is the dress Manuela borrows for Renee?

4. What arrives for Columbe?

5. What makes Paloma feel hope?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Paloma feel and think when she hears her school choir singing?

2. Who wakes Renee at seven and what does Renee tell the person?

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

4. What does Paul Nguyen tell Renee when he comes to her door and what is Renee's response?

5. What happens when Renee goes to the cleaners to retrieve the beige dress?

6. Why is Manuela happy about the new tenant?

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

8. What does Kakuro want when he comes to Renee's apartment, and what is her response?

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

10. What does Renee think is wrong with Columbe's thesis and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "The Elegance of the Hedgehog".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of this book. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of "The Elegance of the Hedgehog". How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in "The Elegance of the Hedgehog". Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of being yourself in this book. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to hide themselves? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death in "The Elegance of the Hedgehog". Consider not just the physical deaths which take place but any changes that may be a type of death.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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