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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. Who is beside Clary when she wakens?

2. What does Clary encounter as she is searching for her mother?

3. About what does Jace tell Clary?

4. What does Clary decide to do after observing the activity of the boy with the blue hair and the other two boys?

5. What is Eric's poetry like?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Clary get out of the apartment and who are the police who arrive?

2. What do the three young people find in Luke's apartment and what does that tell them?

3. What discussion do Dorothea and Jace have about witches?

4. Why is Simon at Luke's house and what has he seen?

5. What does Clary do when she sees the situation with the girl and the three boys?

6. How does Jace react to Madame Dorothea and how does Clary defend her?

7. What happens to the demon and how is Clary stung by the demon?

8. Who do both Clary and the blue-haired boy notice and where does the person go?

9. What do Jace and Clary want to do upon arriving at Luke's place and who else do they find there?

10. What do Clary's neighbor say about noises?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in "City of Bones". Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Clare chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Clare chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Clare's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, cliffhangers, deux ex machina, etc.), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Clare use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme.)

Essay Topic 2

1. What is foreshadowing? How many incidences of foreshadowing are in "City of Bones"? How does foreshadowing contribute to a book's suspense?

2. Discuss an example of foreshadowing in "City of Bones" including why you believe it is foreshadowing. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from the text to support your opinion.

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Cassandra Clare.

2. What in Clare's background may have helped her in writing "City of Bones"? What may have influenced the way she depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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