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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. The novel begins with the description of what?

2. Upon what four things in the catechism does Thérèse concentrate?

3. What happens when the two girls return from the roof?

4. Why does Victorine takes Léonie and Thérèse into the woods?

5. Of what is Thérèse's bag full?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does the theme of social class appear in the chapter "The Sack"?

3. The burning of objects occur repeatedly throughout this novel, the first idea of this occurring in the chapter "The Altar." What do you think could be the symbolism behind the burning of various objects?

4. What in "The Ivory Ring" chapter foreshadows Thérèse's despondency about her mother's death and her father transferring his affection to Madeleine?

5. What scene in the chapter, "The Camp Bed," suggests that the personal dynamics of the household is about to change?

6. How do Therèse's actions in this chapter, "The Fish Kettle," foreshadow her decision to become a nun?

7. What do you think is symbolic about the dinner the two women share?

8. What do you think the wind Léonie feels means?

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

10. In the chapter, "The Silver Cake Tray," what do you think is the significance of the shrine?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In chapter 8, Léonie says she will kill Thérèse if she brings up anything else about the past. Each woman remembers the past differently. Memory is a tricky thing, and often several people who witness the same event will later relate the details differently. . Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. How do Thérèse and Léonie's memories differ about their childhood as they are back together as adults? Give specific examples.

2. Have you ever recounted an event in your life only to have a parent, sibling or other person say "that's not at all how it happened"? How did you feel about being challenged/corrected? Do you think your memory of the past is reliable? Why or why not.

3. When you think about your very young childhood, how many of your memories do you think you actually recall and how many of them are events that an adult related to you and you have incorporated into your own set of memories? Discuss a couple of those and evaluate them for accuracy.

Essay Topic 2

There are many statements throughout this novel about church, Jesus, Christianity, and in particular, Mary, the mother of Jesus. Additionally, reference is made about Jews, though the Jewish religion is not mentioned too much. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. Take three characters and trace their references to religion throughout the novel. Evaluate how strongly each character feels about his/her spiritual life and what each believes. Be sure to cite specific examples to support your statements.

2. Compare and contrast the way the main characters and the village people view Christianity versus Judaism and Christians versus Jews. Be sure to cite specific examples to support your statements.

3. Is this novel about religion and spirituality? If references to religious ideas and beliefs were removed, how substantially would the novel be impacted? Discuss using specific examples.

Essay Topic 3

A literary technique called "foreshadowing" is seen in Chapter 11. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. What theme/idea do you think is foreshadowed in this chapter? (hint: it has something to do with Thérèse's relationship to her "father," Louis. Give examples of both what is foreshadowed and where the theme/idea again appears later in the story.

2. What are literary techniques? Name several of the most common and define them.

3. Take the literary techniques you define in question number 2 and give examples of their occurrence in this story or some other piece of literature or film.

4. Do you think authors intentionally plan to write in literary techniques such as foreshadowing? Explain

(see the answer keys)

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