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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. What happens to Karin?

2. What does Hanna do when she gets angry at Rolf?

3. Who does Immers criticize continually one day?

4. What did Hans-Jurgen do that everyone knows about?

5. What does Hannelore do as a result of her brother's action?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Hanna do at the river when she is upset at her father?

2. How and why does Anton cull his violets?

3. From where does Hans-Jurgen escape and who decides to search for him?

4. How old was Hanna when her mother died and how did her mother die?

5. What does Hanna think about as she is recovering from her fright on the river?

6. What did Rolf tell Hanna not to do?

7. What upsets Hanna about her father after her mother died and where does she go to get away from the situation?

8. Who is Hannelore Beier?

9. Where does Hanna find Rolf, what do they do there and upon what do they agree?

10. Where do Hanna and Renate search for Hans-Jurgen and what is the outcome?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Floating in My Mother's Palm belongs to the general fiction genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the general fiction genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a general fiction novel and a mystery?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in Floating in My Mother's Palm. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of love in Floating in My Mother's Palm. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death in Floating in My Mother's Palm.

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