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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 gift does Koly give to Hari when she first goes to his room after hearing his bad cough?

2. What does Koly think of the cake at the traditional feast?

3. Where does Koly sleep on her wedding night?

4. Who meets Hari and his family in Varanasi?

5. After Sass returns from getting Hari's medicine, how does she react when she discovers Koly in Hari's room and learns she has given him a remedy?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Sass justify her refusal to give Koly her pension money when Koly tells her she wants it?

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

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

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

5. Explain how Koly's marriage is expected to benefit her family.

6. Explain the importance of Tagore's book of poems in Chapter 4.

7. How does the train ride to Varanasi seem to indicate that the outcome of this journey will be a poor one?

8. Why is Chandra impressed by the qualifications of her intended husband?

9. Describe Koly's first morning as a married woman.

10. Describe Koly's wedding gift to Chandra.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Koly shows courage in spite of the obstacles she faces in the novel.

1) At what point does Koly show the most courage? Justify your response.

2) Is there a difference between courage and survival instinct? Explain your answer and give examples of both in the novel.

3) Where does Koly get her courage from? Give three examples of her acting with courage and the result that occurs.

Essay Topic 2

Imagine that the story has taken some different turns and answer the questions below with support for your conclusion:

1) What would have happened if Koly had not traded the silver earrings for the Tagore book?

2) What would have happened if Koly took her pension money back from Chandra's dowry?

3) What would have happened if Koly did not have the ability to embroider?

Essay Topic 3

Different characters in the novel view their responsibilities in different ways. Choose three of the characters listed and discuss their definitions of responsibility, family, and honor in the novel. Choose from these characters: Koly, Sass, Sassur, Koly's mother or father, Maa Kamala, Raji, and the benefactor of the widow's home.

(see the answer keys)

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