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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 Elena have Lina take Mr. Stalas?

2. How many people are in their group?

3. How much time has passed as Jonas is improving?

4. What have Andrius and his mother decided to do?

5. What is good about the time around Christmas?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Lina learn from the bald man about their captivity?

2. What does Andrius say about his mother and why she is doing what she does?

3. Describe the Christmas celebration.

4. What happens to Jonas?

5. Describe the encounter between Kretsky and Lina at the wood pile.

6. What has Hitler done in Lithuania, and what is the bald man's response to the action?

7. What does Elena reveal about Kretsky?

8. What causes Lina to appreciate the risk that some take to get food for others?

9. How do the others help Lina celebrate her sixteenth birthday?

10. What news does Mrs. Rimas recieve in a letter and how is it coded?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

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

Looking back on the fact that Kretsky had helped her out of the hole when Lina believed she was about to be killed and looking forward to Kretsky's later actions, it seems more likely that Kretsky realized Lina was in danger from the other two soldiers. Lina is fifteen and is probably an attractive young woman, despite the hardships she's faced. Rape is likely very common and it seems that Kretsky was probably anxious to take the soldier's minds off Lina as an attractive young woman. Though she doesn't see it, Kretsky hates his role in the situation. Discuss the following:

1. What would happen if Kretsky spoke out even more strongly through his actions and words, about the way prisoners are treated?

2. Does Kretsky have a choice in his role in the prisoners lives?

3. Is the threat of death (assuming Kretsy would be killed if he disobeys and order or speaks out against the abuse of prisoners) a valid reason for continuing in a position of abuse?

4. Is Kretsky's small ways of trying to make it up to the prisoners redemptive for Kretsky?

(see the answer keys)

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