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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 Ruby witness at Nate's house?

2. What does Nate say about what happens between him and his dad?

3. What is one thing Ruby concentrates on in December?

4. What does Olivia say about Ruby and Nate?

5. What does Ruby want to tell Nate when it's almost Valentine's Day?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ruby do in the clearing after Olivia drops her there?

2. Describe Nate and Ruby's visit to the vacant apartment.

3. What does Heather say she wished she had forced?

4. What happens between Ruby and Nate that endangers their relationship?

5. Describe Ruby's confrontation at Marshall's place.

6. What changes have been going on with Gervais?

7. What is Ruby's December like?

8. What does Ruby learn about her father?

9. What does Gervais want when he comes over to Ruby's house on Christmas?

10. What happens when Ruby gets back to Cora and Jaime's house and is obviously impaired?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in Lock and Key. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Dessen chooses the symbols she does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Dessen chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Dessen's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Dessen use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in Lock and Key.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of Lock and Key. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Lock and Key. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 3

Lock and Key belongs to the young teen novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the young teen novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a young teen novel and a historical novel mystery?

(see the answer keys)

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