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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 do the men in a Jeep do?

2. What does Shiva take off?

3. What does Stone tell Hema to do with the twins?

4. What does Hema agree to do concerning Ghosh?

5. For what purpose has Eli's church been sending Matron money?

Short Essay Questions

1. What incident shapes Shiva to become the doctor he becomes?

2. Why does the Emperor call the hospital?

3. How does Sister Mary care for Dr. Stone, and what happens while she takes care of him?

4. Why does Eli Harris call Matron?

5. How does the family receive word about Mebratu's coup and what is the coup like initially?

6. What happens to Dr. Stone after Mary's death?

7. What is Shiva like intellectually?

8. What happens when Hema first rushes into the operating room?

9. How is Marion responsible for the death of a soldier?

10. Why are Sister Mary and Anjali on a boat,and what happens to some of the people on the boat?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Would you call the ending of "Cutting for Stone" happy? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Cutting for Stone" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why the book is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

It is highly symbolic that the blood vessels that once connected Shiva and Marion as one body are the ones to explode, ultimately killing Shiva. After Shiva's death, however, Marion feels like order is restored, that he and Shiva truly are one body again, and he even begins using the word "we" instead of "I" in this first-person narration.

1. Discuss in depth the symbolism of the blood vessels that connected Shiva and Marion killing him. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think Shiva would have undergone the surgery if he had known ahead of time that he would die? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Marion's attitude towards Genet and his thought that he and his twin are one again following Shiva's death may indicate he has some form of delusional thinking. Discuss the possibilities of this statement. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Over the course of "Cutting for Stone", Marion grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. "Cutting for Stone" might be considered a slice of Marion's larger story of his "coming of age." It might be said that the story is a "bildungsroman" of Marion. 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 Marion as he changes from a more carefree, innocent boy to a wiser, young man. What are the significant events that change Marion?

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

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

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