View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does Keith go when he hops a fence?

2. What does the hostel proprietor tell Ginny?

3. Why is Ginny relieved when she uses the ATM?

4. Who does Ginny email?

5. What does Ginny tell Keith about Richard?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ginny find at the second hostel she stops at and how does she end up spending the night there? What does she do once she has a place?

2. Who picks Ginny up in Copenhagen and where does he first take her?

3. What does Peg say about Paris when she finished her job at the cafe and what does she tell Ginny she is to do next?

4. Where is Ginny suppose to go after Rome, where is she suppose to stay and why?

5. How do Ginny and Carrie lose their backpacks?

6. How does Ginny find out who Piet is and what does she find out from him?

7. Where does Ginny go after Copenhagen and how does she end up with friends going with her?

8. What does Peg tell Ginny in her letter about Denmark?

9. What does Ginny tell Keith about Richard and what does he say to her?

10. What does Ginny do the first day with the Knapps?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 "13 Little Blue Envelopes", 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 "13 Little Blue Envelopes. (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 2

Ginny decides to buy all the tickets to the show in order to donate the money to the producer. She then realizes the flaw in her plan. Though she'd bought out all the tickets, she effectively ensured that no one else would see him perform. The next morning Ginny finds herself evaluating the choices she made where clothing and footwear is concerned. She is sorry that she ever read the guidebooks that recommended white sneakers. She not only didn't blend in the way she generally preferred to, but actually stood out. Ginny realizes that this is likely one of the reasons Aunt Peg instructed her to avoid the guidebooks entirely. Frankly, she felt like a freak.

1. Discuss the ways in which Ginny both harmed and helped Keith by buying all the tickets. Use examples from your own life and "13 Little Blue Envelopes" to support your answer.

2. Ginny seems to have made a couple of bad choices in clothing and in giving away the money from her aunt. If Ginny was her friend what would you advise her? Use examples from your own life and "13 Little Blue Envelopes" to support your answer.

3. Thinking over a day in school, without names, discuss a student in your school who you thinks is like Ginny, shy and trying to blend in all the time. Use examples from your own life and "13 Little Blue Envelopes" to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in "13 Little Blue Envelopes". Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Johnson chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Johnson chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Johnson's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, cliffhangers, deux ex machina, etc.), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Johnson use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme.)

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,482 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample