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. What is Ona like when she undresses?

2. What interests Jonas about the farm?

3. How does the bald man feel about the news about Germany?

4. How often does the train stop?

5. What does the bald man ask Jonas to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Lina's father say to Lina?

2. What does Lina notice as the train is pulling away from the station?

3. What does Lina remember about her artistic abilities?

4. What do Lina and Elena do on their first day?

5. Where do the prisoners arrive and where is Lina's family assigned?

6. Who does Lina recognize on the truck and what does one prisoner do and what happens to him?

7. Why does Elena rush her children and what is the mood when they get back on the truck?

8. What happens in Vilnius?

9. Who introduces himself and what does he say about his father?

10. What is Lina thinking about as the story opens?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The fact that the priest is issuing last rites as the train pulls away from the station is a significant indication that others know what's happening to those on the train. This is another question that's asked repeatedly about the atrocities performed by Stalin and Hitler. Why didn't people object? There isn't an easy answer and this question, like the question of why so many went quietly to their deaths, is left to the reader to decide. Discuss the following;

1. How much power does an individual have to end atrocities such as that demonstrated in "Between Shades of Gray"?

2. What characters intervene in the misuse of power and how do they do so? What is the outcome?

3. Do individuals have a moral obligation to try to stop the misuse of power? What about in small ways, such as dealing with a bully?

4. Compare the misuse of power by a dictator to that by a school bully. How are they alike? Different? Is it likely a dictator was a bully as a young person?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in "Between Shades of Gray". Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of courage in "Between Shades of Gray". Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death in "Between Shades of Gray". Consider the death of Ona's baby as an random act of nature and the death of Ona as the result of conscious violence. Consider also in your answer the death of innocence in Lina from the beginning of the book to the end.

Essay Topic 3

Characters are an important part of what makes "Between Shades of Gray" interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Lina. What are her strengths? Weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Kretsky. What are his strengths? Weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Elena. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,091 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample