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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Thérèse do with the package?

2. What does Thérèse learn about her mother?

3. Who is nearby when Thérèse experiences a vision?

4. Over what does Léonie feel cowardly?

5. Where has Thérèse gone?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The keeping of secrets is a recurring theme in this novel. Both Thérèse and Léonie withhold secrets from each other as girls; the adults withhold secrets from the children; the house holds secrets from the past, and Antoinette holds some secrets from both the adults and the children. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. Discuss the secrets Thérèse and Léonie hold from each other and why you think they do this. Give specific details and examples from the book.

2. Discuss the secrets the adults withhold from the children. Why do they do this? Is it wise to do so? Do adults in general tend to keep too much from children? Why or why not.

3. Discuss Antoinette's secrets and what you think they are and why you think she keeps them secrets. Is that healthy? She is the only one to get ill and die in the novel--could there be a correlation between her secrets eating away inside her and her getting cancer?

Essay Topic 2

The two main characters, Léonie and Thérèse, are cousins (or perhaps sisters), though, they are in some ways mirror opposites of each other...or are they. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. In what ways are Léonie and Thérèse complete opposites; give several examples and explain your choices.

2. In what ways are Léonie and Thérèse similar; give several examples and explain your choices.

3. Which cousin seems to be more "real"? Why?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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