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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 Ben do with the piece of paper that Annie gives him?

2. What does Ben do to Annie that bothers him so deeply?

3. What did Ben dislike when he was a baby?

4. What was Ben's initial diagnosis?

5. What is Tea Bags called in pyschological terms?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has Ben's life been like prior to his time with Annie?

2. What does Dr. Connelly warn Annie to stay away from when he releases her from the hospital?

3. How does Annie interpret her first session with Ben after the Christmas break?

4. Why do you believe Ben refuses to see Annie for three weeks during their sessions?

5. What is your opinion of Annie's relationship with Melanie, her own therapist?

6. In what way is the bird that Ben paints connected with the bird that Annie paints?

7. Why does Annie use play therapy when dealing with Ben?

8. Describe the collages that Annie makes while in the hospital.

9. Why is it significant that Annie does not let Ben keep the spring he finds on the playroom floor?

10. Consider Annie's writing style during this second part of her book.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Shining is a term that can be used to describe a means of nonverbal communication between two people. With this definition in mind, do you believe that Annie and Ben had this sort of relationship? Why or why not? Defend your answer with examples from the book.

Essay Topic 2

Burning is a theme that is repeated often in this novel. For instance, Annie's mother was burned as a child, Ben was left in a burning house, and Annie experiences the sensation of burning skin several times during the course of the novel. Describe why burning is so important in the novel. Identify at least three references to burning and describe how they relate to one another.

Essay Topic 3

Consider the titles that Annie uses in her book, both the main title and section titles for the three main sections of the novel.

1. Do you believe the section titles (The Other Side of Silence, Silence and Messenger) are appropriate? Explain how each title relates to the information included in that section of the text.

2. Do you believe the main title of the novel, A Shining Affliction, is appropriate? To what affliction does the title refer? Why is this affliction considered to be shining?

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