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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 9 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Seraphina's son's name?

2. What does one of the women who visits Hadley say about the practice of borrowing babies?

3. Why does Seraphina feel her husband is incapable of inspiring anger in her?

4. What type of baby does Hadley choose to borrow?

5. What does Seraphina do after reading the email from one of the nannies?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Paul behave around Seraphina?

2. Who comes to Hadley's apartment after she arrives with Gemma and where are they from?

3. What does one of the woman who comes to Hadley's apartment say to Hadley when she says that borrowing a baby is not a crime?

4. Why do the women who come to Hadley's apartment say they think she is one of them?

5. Why does Hadley consider running away with Gemma when she takes her from the library?

6. How does borrowing a baby make Hadley feel about her lot in life?

7. Describe Hadley's experience at the library when she looks for a baby to borrow.

8. How does Seraphina feel about her life as a mother?

9. How does Seraphina discover her nannies are gone and how does she react?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a brief essay analyzing the title "Graceful Burdens." Explore the ways in which this title connects to the plot and themes of the story.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay discussing the setting and time period of "Graceful Burdens." In what ways does the time period and setting impact your understanding of the story as well as the themes?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay exploring the themes of freedom and control in "Graceful Burdens." What images, objects, actions, or symbols represent these themes? Use strong textual evidence to support your exploration.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 623 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample