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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 do Colin and Hassan stop to sleep?
2. What does Hollis invite the boys to do?
3. Why does Colin call his mother?
4. Where was Colin's first date with Katherine IXI?
5. From where did Starnes retire?
Short Essay Questions
1. Why does Hassan seem to think that Colin's problem is spiritual?
2. What approach do Hassan and Colin use on Hassan's father to gain permission for the trip?
3. Why does Colin call his mother?
4. What is Colin doing at the opening of the novel and what is he upset about?
5. How does Colin respond to what his father tells him when Colin gets out of the shower?
6. What are Colin and Hassan supposed to do that day and what do they accomplish?
7. What do Hassan and Colin discuss concerning prodigies and geniuses?
8. What happened when Colin's parents enroll him in a pre-school?
9. What does Colin overhear Hassan and Lindsey talking about and what do the three young people do that evening?
10. Whose grave is advertised when Colin and Hassan decide to exit off the interstate?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
The fact that Colin keeps dating girls with the name of Katherine suggests that he is attracting the same type of girl. Each girl ends the relationship and so the act of continuing to date Katherines symbolizes Colin's way of trying to get the relationship right this time around.
1. Discuss how the saying: Insanity is when you keep on doing what you have always done expecting different results relates the the above statements. Use examples from your own life and "An Abundance of Katherines" to support your answer.
2. Do you think Colin will ever "get it right" if he keeps attracting the same type of girl? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and "An Abundance of Katherines" to support your answer.
3. Since it is almost a given that in the "real" world no one could have met 19 girls named Katherine to date, especially given Colin's age, the fact that in An Abundance of Katherines this is true it must mean something else. Discuss what theme the author is illustrating using the symbolism of 19 girls with the same name. Use examples from your own life and "An Abundance of Katherines" to support your answer.
Essay Topic 2
Over the course of "An Abundance of Katherines", Colin grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. "An Abundance of Katherines" might be considered a slice of Colin's larger story of his "coming of age." It might be said that this story is a "bildungsroman" of Colin Singleton. 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 Colin as he changes from having little knowledge of himself or the world to a wiser, young man. What are the significant events that change Colin?
3. After thoroughly analyzing Colin's growth throughout An Abundance of Katherines, do you think "An Abundance of Katherines" could be considered Colin's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?
4. Are there any other characters in "An Abundance of Katherines" who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?
Essay Topic 3
Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:
1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?
2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as "An Abundance of Katherines" help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading "An Abundance of Katherines"? Why or why not.
3. Choose one specific incident in "An Abundance of Katherines" to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.
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This section contains 1,073 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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