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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 Thérèse do as she walks through the house?

2. What does Leonie take out before leaving?

3. Who has died at the beginning of Chapter 22?

4. How does Léonie help Louis?

5. When is Léonie's birthday?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do you think that the emptiness in the air about Léonie means?

2. In the chapter "The Photographs," what in the photographs displayed again reveals the different focus of the two women when they are girls?

3. What about her mother's impending death seems to be of greatest concern to Thérèse in the chapter "The Statue of the Virgin"?

4. What is the symbolism of Thérèse dumping Antoinette's letters into the stove to burn?

5. In "The Cake Tin," what can be implied about Victorine's attitudes towards Jews?

6. What story does Léonie tell Baptiste and what is his response?

7. To what do you think Léonie's dream in "The Red Suitcase," is related and of what do you think the suitcase is symbolic?

8. In the chapter, "The Coffee Bowls," how do you think Léonie is symbolically similar to the house?

9. To what do you think Léonie's fears are related in the chapter "The Nightlight"?

10. How is the relationship between Baptiste and Léonie developed in this chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most novels have several themes, one or two main themes and one or more minor themes. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. Discuss one of what you believe to be a major theme. Give specific examples of how the theme is illustrated and why you think it is a major theme.

2. Discuss two minor themes of the novel. Give specific examples of how the themes are illustrated and why you choose those themes.

3. Briefly define several themes of the novel and show how they are interrelated, using examples from the book.

Essay Topic 2

Dreams are detailed in several chapters of this work; two particularly long ones are in chapter 1 and chapter 47. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. Describe several symbols in the dreams and their meaning.

2. What do you think is the purpose of using dreams in this novel?

3. How effective are the dreams at explaining the interior landscape of Thérèse and Léonie, since each character dreams one of the two significant dreams.

4. Do you find that dreams contribute to the meaning of this work? What about other literature or film that has one or more dream scenes?

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 29, the differences between the English and French and the Roman Catholic religion and the Anglican religion are very visible. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. How different are the English from the French as suggested in this novel? Give specific examples.

2. Do you think there is such as big a difference in the culture of the two countries in the 21st century as in the time frame when the novel first opens (1950's)? Why or why not?

3. What are the major differences between the Roman Catholic Church beliefs and that of the Anglican Church? (You may have to do a little research).

(see the answer keys)

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