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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 impresses Debbie about the student with the locker next to hers?

2. What festival is coming up in the teens' hometown?

3. What song does the music class sing?

4. What causes problems for the teens who are ready to listen to "Criss Cross" in Chapter 21?

5. What does Mrs. Bruning see about Peter and Debbie?

Short Essay Questions

1. What subject does Peter's father approach with Mrs. Bruning and what is her response?

2. How do Debbie and Peter handle the emergency with Mrs. Bruning?

3. What book is Debbie reading in Chapter 22 and what does she think about the book and her life compared to the life of the protagonist in the book?

4. What do Peter and Debbie decide to do after Mrs. Bruning is taken to the hospital?

5. With what is Lenny helping his father in Chapter 16, and what is Debbie doing when she overhears them?

6. With what class is Patty struggling and what does she feel from the knowledge she has learned in this class?

7. What has Debbie convinced her mother of, and what does she find in her mother's mementos box?

8. What are the other teens doing while Debbie is dealing with the crisis with Mrs. Bruning?

9. What does Debbie hear her mother telling a friend about Debbie's upcoming summer?

10. How does Debbie's necklace end up in a tar patch after Dan picked it up?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Over the course of "Criss Cross", Debbie grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. "Criss Cross" might be considered a slice of Debbie's larger story of her "coming of age." It might be said that the book is a "bildungsroman" of Debbie. 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 Debbie as she changes from a more carefree, innocent girl to a wiser, older teen. What are the significant events that change Debbie?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Debbie's growth throughout the book, do you think "Criss Cross" could be considered Debbie's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in "Criss Cross" who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in "Criss Cross". 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 Perkins 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 Perkins chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Perkins'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 Perkins 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 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in "Criss Cross". 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 knowing oneself in "Criss Cross". Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of parents and teenagers in "Criss Cross". Consider the silence between Debbie and her mother and Lenny and his father working together.

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