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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 Aunt Peg say all great artists face?

2. Who is Keith?

3. Why is Ginny unsure when she goes to an ATM machine to get some cash?

4. What does Ginny find on the metro station map?

5. What does Keith climb on stage?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Ginny decide to get the money to the artist?

2. How does Ginny and Keith get David in the car when he is drunk?

3. Who opens the door when Ginny goes to the address in London given in the letter?

4. What is Ginny's experience the second night of Keith's show, and what does he do?

5. What is contained in the second envelope?

6. Describe the process Ginny goes through to purchase the tickets.

7. Where does Ginny go to search for artists, and what does she decide?

8. Who is Ginny supposed to meet in Edinburgh and why? How does Ginny feel about going there?

9. What does Ginny decide to do to get rid of the tickets she now holds and how many does she give away?

10. What is Ginny's experience in the theater?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Over the course of "13 Little Blue Envelopes", Ginny grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. "13 Little Blue Envelopes" might be considered a slice of Ginny's larger story of her "coming of age." It might be said that this story is a "bildungsroman" of Ginny Blackstone. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Ginny as she changes from a shy teen to a more confident young woman. What are the significant events that change Ginny?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Ginny's growth throughout "13 Little Blue Envelopes", do you think "13 Little Blue Envelopes" could be considered Ginny's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in "13 Little Blue Envelopes" who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "13 Little Blue Envelopes" is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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