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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. How is Petra resourceful?

2. Of whom does the image of the little girl remind Louis?

3. What does Mrs. White document?

4. Where does Petra go?

5. What does Antonia begin to doubt?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ben want to do and what does he think about as far as Calli being in the woods?

2. What does Calli express about her father?

3. How has Calli's bathroom crisis worsened and what does she decide to do?

4. How does the school nurse treat Calli's accidents?

5. What does Antonia do in her search for the girls and how is she like Martin concerning her daughter?

6. Who is banging on Antonia's door and what do they want?

7. What does Calli need to do when she wakes up early one morning?

8. What does Martin remember about his daughter Petra?

9. Why does Petra hear a noise and what does she decide to do?

10. What happens when Calli's father sees her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in The Weight of Silence. 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 courage in The Weight of Silence. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of fear in The Weight of Silence. Consider the fear Calli has of her father, the fear Martin has for his daughter and the fear of Louis's wife for how Louis might feel about Antonia. What does Griff fear?

Essay Topic 2

There are a number of interesting questions raised by The Weight of Silence. Questions that Gudenkauf most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Gudenkauf's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Gudenkauf's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Gudenkauf and see if/where his life may have influenced his writing.

Essay Topic 3

Antonia cares for her son, making sure he eats. She reflects on her life choices, realizing that Louis was all she ever needed. When she felt abandoned by him, she cut him off, ending out on the path that led her to a very unhappy marriage. She knows that Griff has a good side to him, and part of her loves him. However, his drinking is more important to him, and it turns him into an unlovable man. Antonia can't help thinking she destroys everything she is a part of even though her children adore her.

1. Why do you think Louis would begin to look better to Antonia in the situation in the book? Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

2. Discuss why you think Antonia married Griff when Louis went off to college. Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

3. Why do you think Antonia thinks she destroys everything of which she is a part? What examples are there in the text that support and do not support this belief. Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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