View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Jared doing on the way home?

2. What does the person who made the sketch want Simon to do with it?

3. What does Jared say about human beliefs?

4. What is a phooka?

5. What is ahead of the children on the path?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mallory say to Jared when they arrive home and how does he respond?

2. What begins to make the children nervous and what happens as they reach a meadow?

3. What does the unicorn show the children and how do they react to the vision?

4. What is Jared's response to the elves ravings and how does Lorengorm answer Jared?

5. What do the elves say about humans and the field guide when they get angry?

6. What happens with the children when they walk up the hill?

7. What confuses Jared about the walk and what does he remember from the Field Guide?

8. What does Simon suggest about Mallory's find and what is her response?

9. How does Mallory feel about the conversation with the rabbit-monkey creature and what does Simon ask it? What is the creature's response to Simon's question?

10. What does Lorengorm say to them?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Following the path of their Uncle frustrates Jared when Simon refuses to explain why he appears to be backtracking on the path. Mallory continues to follow without question and when Jared finally tries to ask Simon where they are going, Simon snaps at Jared. While Simon is under a spell, his angry words show that he is sometimes resentful of Jared's need to be in charge all the time and somewhat jealous of Jared who seems to always be able to find a solution to a problem.

1. Why do you think Simon ignoring Jared was frustrating to Jared? Do you think most people become frustrated when they are ignored? Why or why not? Use examples from Lucinda's Secret and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think Simon was ignoring Jared because of a spell or did the spell simply cause him to do what he would like to do when he is himself? Do you think Simon resents Jared always trying to be in charge of a situation? Why or why not? Use examples from Lucinda's Secret and your own life to support your answer.

3. If you were under a spell and could say or do anything you want to one of your siblings or good friends, using the spell as an excuse so they wouldn't blame you, what would you do? Why would you do it?

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an important part of what makes Lucinda's Secret interesting. Discuss the following "good" characters:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Jared. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Simon. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Mallory. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

4. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Lucinda. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of Lucinda's Secret. Consider the following: How does one character's actions portray the theme you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to that theme? Is the theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

2. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Lucinda's Secret. How does one character's actions portray the themes you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to those themes? Is each theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

3. What benefit is there in discussing and analyzing the themes of a work of fiction? Do you think most authors consciously develop themes in their works? Why or why not? Can there be accidental themes? What do you think is one possible "accidental" theme in Lucinda's Secret? Which theme in Lucinda's Secret speaks to you the most in your life? Why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,280 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample