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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 Garrett do the week after his third date with Theresa?

2. How much longer does Theresa stay after the first night she and Garrett spend together?

3. What does Garrett's dad advise him to do the day following Theresa's return to Boston?

4. What do Garret and Theresa soon find themselves doing at the end of their third date?

5. What type of conversation did Garrett and Theresa have during their first dinner together?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Garrett's feelings at the start of Chapter 10?

2. Who do you think Theresa is in love with at the end of Chapter 9, the Garrett from the letter or the Garrett she met?

3. What did Garrett do after his first night with Theresa?

4. What does Garrett find in Theresa's apartment and how does he react?

5. What question does Kevin ask Theresa in the plane back to Boston?

6. What are Garrett's and Theresa's feeling toward each other at the end of Chapter 9 ?

7. What is Garrett's fate?

8. How does the long distance relationship work for Garrett and Theresa?

9. How does the relationship between Theresa and Garrett evolve in Chapter 8?

10. What message does the last bottle from Garrett contain?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Message in a Bottle" expresses humanity's capacity for love and relationships, but love and life appear simultaneously in the novel, revealing the human condition and human frailty. Discuss the motif of love in "Message in a Bottle," analyzing how love can be both destructive and regenerating.

Essay Topic 2

Why doesn't Theresa mention the letters when she first meets Garrett? Do you think their relationship could have evolved if she had? Do you think they would have moved as quickly? Support your discussion and opinions with quotes from the text and feel free to use secondary sources from well known critics.

Essay Topic 3

Nicholas Sparks ends the story on an ironic note. In an essay, define the meaning of irony and apply it to the ending. How does Sparks include an ironic twist at the end? How does it affect the story line and the characters? Discuss why Sparks may have chosen to end "Message in a Bottle" in the way he did and what he accomplished with the ending. Use examples from the book to support your statements.

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