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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. Why does Matthias not pursue the course of training he had started?

2. How is Trudi's father towards her?

3. How is it said that Trudi's mother went insane?

4. What does Hanna encourage Matthias to do?

5. Where does the baby die?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Matthias tell Hanna about his life as a priest in training?

2. Why does Oma go back to the hospital one day?

3. What happens when Hanna's baby brother is born?

4. What do many people believe is the cause of Trudi becoming an old maid?

5. Describe the narrator of these stories.

6. What happens to Hanna's paternal grandmother and how does she cope?

7. Describe Hanna's father.

8. Describe Trudi Montag.

9. Describe Matthias Berger.

10. How did Trudi's mother dropping her supposedly affect her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an important part of what makes Floating in My Mother's Palm interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Hanna. 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.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Hanna's mother. 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 Hanna's father. 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.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in Floating in My Mother's Palm.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of Floating in My Mother's Palm. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Floating in My Mother's Palm. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

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 Floating in My Mother's Palm is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,003 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample