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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. Where does Charlotte store newspaper clippings and photographs from her past?
2. What is one thing the narrator and his sister can visualize as their grandmother is telling a story?
3. Who does the narrator curse at a dinner party?
4. What does Albertine leave behind?
5. With what do the narrator and his sister struggle?
Short Essay Questions
1. What does Charlotte do during the war and how does she react to her work?
2. Why does the narrator become outraged?
3. What happens after Fyodor is arrested?
4. What story captures the narrator's imagination concerning Tsar Nicholas II?
5. What does the narrator spend a lot of time doing and what is one photograph that seems out of place?
6. What is the narrator allowed to do when he is 14?
7. What is one of the childhood memories of Charlotte's that has left an impact on the narrator?
8. What does the narrator say his grandmother does when the narrator looks at the photo of the scruffy woman?
9. How does missing a train save Charlotte and her children's lives?
10. About what do others continue to speculate?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:
1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?
2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as "Dreams of My Russian Summers" help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading "Dreams of My Russian Summers"? Why or why not.
3. Choose one specific incident in "Dreams of My Russian Summers" to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.
Essay Topic 2
Choose one of the following to discuss:
1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in "Dreams of My Russian Summers'. 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 Makine 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 Makine chooses the metaphors he does?
3. Discuss Makine'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 Alexie 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
Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:
1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?
2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?
3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?
4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.
5. What type of plot do you think "Dreams of My Russian Summers" is? Explain your response.
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This section contains 1,093 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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