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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 Koly's father sometimes refuse payment for his work?

2. What does Koly do when Sass tells her to give Chandra the silver earrings for her wedding day?

3. What significant event occurs at the end of Chapter 4?

4. What does Koly embroider on the quilt that she makes for Chandra's wedding gift?

5. Why does Sass take Chandra and Koly to town at the end of their first summer together?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Koly's prospective husband and family, and explain why this is considered a good match.

2. Explain why Hari and his parents are arguing on Koly's second night in her new home.

3. Explain Koly''s reaction to hearing Sass and Sassur discuss the use of her widow's pension.

4. Describe Koly's wedding gift to Chandra.

5. How is the role of women in India at this time depicted in Koly's role at Chandra's wedding?

6. Describe the events that lead up to an envelope with Koly's name arriving at the Mehta's house each month.

7. What is Koly's relationship with Sassur like in Chapter 4, after Hari's death?

8. How is Hari's death addressed?

9. What happens when Koly and the Mehtas arrive in Varanasi that indicates that Mr. and Mrs. Mehta are embarrassed that they married Hari so young and for the money?

10. Describe the evening of, and the events leading up to, Hari's death.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Quilts and saris represent femininity and elegance in a world that otherwise dismisses any female as being of little value. Compare Koly's life to a quilt or a sari. Explain why you chose the item you did.

Essay Topic 2

Foreshadowing is used throughout the novel. Select one of the following questions to answer:

1) Discuss examples of foreshadowing involving Raji, Hari, and Koly.

2) What items or objects in the story have foreshadowing linked to them? Choose three items (like the Tagore book, the earrings, a quilt, the rickshaw...) and explain with details.

3) What foreshadowing is evident with these characters: Mala, Sassur, Koly, Mr. Das, Sass, Raji, Hari, Chandra?

Essay Topic 3

Sass is depicted as the epitome of an evil mother-in-law, while Sassur seems to be the stereotypical weak husband who lets his wife make all the decisions.

1) What would happen differently in the story if Sass was kind and yielding, and Sassur bitter and resentful toward Koly?

2) What positive outcomes are there for Koly that stem from negative events between her and Sass? Be specific.

3) Sass and Koly end up in the same position, as widows, yet Sass does not seem to soften her heart to Koly at all. Does Sass deserve to end up in this position? What do you predict lies in her future?

(see the answer keys)

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