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 kind of apprenticeship does Elena describe Donato Sarratore finding for Melina Cappuccio's son in Childhood: Chapter 5?

2. With whom does Lila suggest she and Elena go dancing with in Adolescence: Chapter 14?

3. Who is the son of Don Achille that is in the school competition in Childhood: Chapter 8?

4. How is Melina Cappuccio related to Lila?

5. How does Elena describe Lila injuring Enzo in Childhood: Chapter 3?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Lila's sense of competition illustrated in Adolescence: Chapters 13-18?

2. How does Lila's character perceive wealth in the narrative?

3. How does Lila's behavior toward Elena change once Lila is no longer in school?

4. How would you describe Elena's behavior toward Rino in the phone calls in the Prologue and Chapters 1-3?

5. What leads to the family feuds and violence that erupts in Childhood: Chapters 8 and 9?

6. How does the onset of adolescence affect both Lila and Elena?

7. How does Don Achille respond to Lila asking for their dolls in Childhood: Chapter 14? What is revealed of his character through is response?

8. How would you describe the development of Lila and Elena's relationship in Adolescence: Chapters 7-12?

9. What is discovered of Lila's belongings and mementos in Chapters 2 and 3?

10. What is foreshadowed by the attentions paid to Lila during the outing in the city in Adolescence: Chapter 16?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the narrative style and framing device established for My Brilliant Friend in the Prologue and first chapters. From whose perspective is the narrative related? Why is the narrative related by this character?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the characters of Lila and Elena in the novel. How are they alike? How do they differ? How do their differences influence the development of their friendship in the narrative?

Essay Topic 3

What caused the conflict between Lila and Enzo that involved throwing rocks? How does the conflict become resolved? What impact does this conflict and its resolution have on their future friendship?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 921 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample