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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. Where does Knud take Ginny?

2. What does Olivia do when she comes in the room?

3. Where does her aunt say Ginny can go to get her next assignment?

4. What shocks Ginny about what Mrs. Knapp gives her?

5. For what does Ginny say she's been searching?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Ginny find the cafe and what does she do there?

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

4. What does Ginny do when she leaves Richard after learning he was Peg's husband?

5. Where does Ginny go first in Paris and what does the letter say that she opens there?

6. What does the key fit and what does Ginny find there? What does she do next?

7. How does Ginny know what to pay the Knapps, what amazes her about the bill and the amount?

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

9. What does the group do when the leave the beach in Greece and what does Ginny do when she finds out she has no money?

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"13 Little Blue Envelopes" belongs to the teen novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the teen novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a teen novel and a historical novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "13 Little Blue Envelopes".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of "13 Little Blue Envelopes". How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

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

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 1,257 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample