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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 does Koly notice as they travel to the temple in Vrindavan?

2. What importance do the bandicoot and stray dog have for Koly in Chapter 6?

3. Who sends a letter to Sass in Chapter 7?

4. Why does Raji tell Koly he is living in the city?

5. Why does Chandra visit her parents' home in the beginning of Chapter 7?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe how Koly's feelings of loneliness change after moving in to Maa Kamala's.

2. Explain how Koly ends up in possession of the Tagore book.

3. Describe the losses Koly attempts to deal with in Chapter 6.

4. Describe Sass's behavior on the train ride to her brother's home.

5. Explain why Sass sells her house.

6. How does the rickshaw driver help Koly in Chapter 8?

7. Describe Chandra's feelings about her marriage in Chapter 7.

8. Explain why Sassur stops reading the Tagore book?

9. Describe Raji's plans for the future as he describes them to Koly in Chapter 9.

10. Describe Koly's first night in Vrindavan after Sass abandons her.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Despite the obvious poor treatment of women in Koly's society, many strong and even influential women appear in the novel. Answer the questions below with support from the novel.

1) Which woman in the story do you consider the strongest, and why?

2) Which woman in the story has the greatest positive impact on Koly? Negative?

3) Which woman in the story seems the happiest? The saddest?

Essay Topic 2

Ceremonies and rituals are important in Koly's culture.

1) What event in the story has the greatest impact on the plot line? Explain your answer.

2) Describe the rituals surrounding an event in the story. Explain why they are important to the people participating in them.

3) Explain why the temples and shrines served as a backdrop for so much of the story.

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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