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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 do the fireworks remind Bernarda and Ygnacio about?

2. What is the Bishop afflicted with?

3. How did the twelve-year-old girl from the legend die?

4. Who reminds Don Ygnacio about the animal biting Sierva?

5. What instrument does Ygnacio play for Sierva?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why must the convent not cut Sierva's hair?

2. What happens to Sierva while in the marketplace?

3. What condition does the beginning of the book find Bernarda in and why?

4. What is the connection between the skull found in the crypts of the convent and the author's memories of a legend?

5. What is special about the tall slave girl brought into New Grenada from the ship?

6. What treatments does Sierva receive in her father's effort to cure her "madness?"

7. How is rabies treated by the citizens of New Grenada from the first chapter?

8. Describe Bernarda and Ygnacio's relationship with Sierva.

9. What sort of man does Don Ygnacio appear to be in Chapter 1?

10. Why does Sierva have a strong affinity for the African culture?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Citing specific examples from the text, discuss the author's use of magic realism in this novel. In what ways does the author make this story true to life? In what ways is this story fantastical? (Please note that the term "fantastical" encompasses more than just the miracle of Sierva's hair growing after death and is meant as something that likely could not happen in real life).

Essay Topic 2

Citing specific examples from the text, write an essay examining Martina, including the following:

- Her personality and characteristics.

- The symbolism of a murderer displaying a Christian attitude. Part

- Why a sympathetic character such as Martina would have murdered nuns.

- The author's intent with the character of Martina.

Essay Topic 3

Citing specific examples from the text, write an essay discussing one of the following:

- The implications and symbolism of the Bishop's asthma.

- Bernarda's rape of the Marquis in order to conceive Sierva.

- Ygnacio's first wife being struck by lightning.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 940 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample