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. From whom does Calder receive a letter?

2. What is Calder contemplating?

3. What is the weather like at the opening of the novel?

4. What type of projects and assignments are students working on in University School?

5. What is Petra doing in Powell's one day when she encounters Calder?

Short Essay Questions

1. What helps Calder think and what is he thinking about as he sits in his room?

2. What is wrong with Ms. Hussey and what do Caler and Petra think about all the problems?

3. How does Petra obtain the book called "Lo!"?

4. How do the students respond to the quote by Picasso, and who is especially intrigued by it?

5. What does the letter from Tommy say, and what is Calder's thoughts about the letter?

6. What does Petra begin looking for, and does she find it at home?

7. What do Petra and Calder do additional study on and what does Petra learn about the woman in her dream?

8. How do Petra and Calder's families differ?

9. Why is the University School founded, and how what Ms. Hussey think of this?

10. What do Ms. Hussey and the students discuss in class and what does she quote from Picasso?

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. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "Chasing Vermeer".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of "Chasing Vermeer". How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

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

Essay Topic 3

Sometimes a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and sometimes it is the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "Chasing Vermeer" is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 783 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample