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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 best describes the train ride that Koly and Sass take to Delhi?

2. Why does Koly return to the train station after spending a week in Vrindavan?

3. What does Sass give Koly while they are in Vrindavan?

4. Why does the rickshaw driver leave Koly at the train station in the beginning of Chapter 8?

5. How does the driver of the rickshaw help Koly to get some food?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How and why does Koly try to please Sass after Chandra is gone?

3. Describe Koly and Sass's first interaction with the rickshaw driver.

4. Describe Koly's first day at Mr. Das's shop.

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

6. Describe the room that Koly stays in at Maa Kamala's.

7. Who is Mala and what is she like?

8. Describe Koly's first day of work stringing marigolds.

9. Describe Koly's financial situation in Chapter 8.

10. Explain how Tagore is important to Koly in Chapter 9.

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

Consider the use of irony and foreshadowing with the following events:

1) Sass's abandonment of Koly.

2) Koly's desire to run away from her marriage and from Sass's home.

3) Sassur's decision to break tradition and teach Koly to read.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,166 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample