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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 Deanna want to do with Theresa the day following her return from her first trip to Wilmington?

2. When Garrett's father comes over after Theresa and Garrett's fight in Boston, what does Garrett's father try to do?

3. What is Theresa's plan for her and Kevin for the weekend following his return?

4. How does Garrett feel about Boston?

5. What does Garrett learn about Theresa during his first visit in Boston?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Garrett's father visit him in his shop at the start of Chapter 10?

3. How is Garrett's first trip to Boston?

4. Why does Theresa break off her relationship with Garrett?

5. Why is Garrett rethinking his relationship with Theresa after Thanksgiving?

6. What difference can you see between the conversation during dinner and the one at the beach in Chapter 5?

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

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

9. Why do you think Garrett leaves the bedroom in the middle of the first night Theresa spends at his home ?

10. What lesson ddoes Theresa learn at the end of Chapter 11?

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 is Theresa so eager to get a commitment from Garrett even after such a short amount of time? Do you think her reading the letters cloud her judgment toward Garrett? Whom do you think Theresa wants the commitment with: the Garrett of the letters or the man she just met? Use the novel to support your statements.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss why flashbacks are used by Nicholas Sparks in "Message in a Bottle." Give examples of how they are used and to what purpose, as well as why Sparks may have chosen to use flashbacks instead of writing the book so that it started three years prior. Give examples from the book to support your discussion.

(see the answer keys)

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