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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. Who is Jimmy?

2. Why has Kylie been sad since her birthday?

3. What does Kylie feel about her upcoming birthday?

4. Who are Jet and Frances?

5. What does Antonia say to Kylie when they are together?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Kylie and Antonia each feel about Gillian, where is Gillian working and what happens at her work place?

2. What is Gillian receiving from Ben everyday and what does she think of that? How did she get to know him?

3. What do Sally and Gillian do with Jimmy and what happens immediately after they do it?

4. How do the girls compare to each other and why do they not play with any of the children in town?

5. How does Kylie react to the birthday gift from her mother and the one from Gillian and what does Sally tell Gillian about Kylie?

6. What does Gillian learn about Ben and how do the other women in town feel about him?

7. What is happening that has caused Gillian and Sally not to speak?

8. What do the girls see Irene ask their aunts for, what do their aunts tell Irene and what does she say?

9. Why is Kylie looking forward to her birthday and how does Antonia feel about being beautiful?

10. What do the children in the town mothers do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "Practical Magic".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of "Practical Magic". How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of "Practical Magic". How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 2

"Practical Magic" belongs to the fantasy genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the historical novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a science fiction novel and a fantasy novel?

Essay Topic 3

Characters are an important part of what makes "Practical Magic" interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Gillian. 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.

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

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Kylie. 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.

(see the answer keys)

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