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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. Who surrounds Charlotte and asks for money?

2. Why must the narrator construct his stories three different ways?

3. What causes Pashka to cry?

4. What does the narrator find that he can only afford for a few months?

5. What does the narrator recount to Pashka?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Pashka almost drown once?

2. What does the narrator do about a place for Charlotte when she comes to visit?

3. How does the narrator's encounter with the girl with russet-colored hair occur and how does it work out between them?

4. Who does the narrator notice while doing sequences and what does he notice about her?

5. Why does the narrator begin to write Charlotte's life and what does he want to know about her as he is writing?

6. What catches the narrator's attention almost obsessively?

7. What does the narrator feel when he is staying in the tombs and what symptoms did he think he had?

8. What does the narrator learn from Mr. Bond about Charlotte in the last chapter?

9. How does the narrator feel about the women in the photo and how does he try to return to the comfort of his childhood?

10. Who is the only person in the narrator's class who treats him kindly?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Andrei Makine.

2. What in Makine's background may have helped him in writing "Dreams of My Russian Summers"? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

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

Characters are an important part of what makes "Dreams of My Russian Summers" interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the narrator. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Charlotte. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Pashka. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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