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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. For what is Gary known?

2. What does Sally do after she invites Gary into the house?

3. What does Gary feel after Sally leaves?

4. When Gary starts crying who is he thinking about?

5. What does Kylie tell Gillian about the coming summer?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is at the aunts' house for Thanksgiving and what does the letter they receive say?

2. What does Kylie receive from her aunts for her birthday and what happens after it is in the house?

3. What do Sally and Gillian learn about Irene and how does this make them feel?

4. What does Sally decide to do about Gary?

5. What is the first thing Sally does when Gary comes and sits in her car?

6. What does Gideon's mother tell him at the beginning of Levitation?

7. What does Gillian tell their aunts about Jimmy and what is their aunts' response?

8. What do Gillian and Sally want to do with the thorns in the backyard and what does Kylie say about their plan?

9. What does Sally think about and how does she feel while waiting for Gary?

10. What does Sally do to find Gary and what does she do when she finds where he is staying?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"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 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in "Practical Magic". Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters are rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of individual freedom in "Practical Magic". Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters work to possess individual freedom? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of tradition in "Practical Magic". What the aunts' views of tradition? What about Sally? Why is tradition important to some characters? Is anyone willing to abandon traditional viewpoints? Who? What are the positive and negative sides to holding fast to tradition?

Essay Topic 3

Sally becomes outraged at the thought that the girls are growing up. It will always make Sally sad to think that her girls are going away, but she will eventually come to terms with it much more easily than she thinks possible. Sally's going to bed seems rather childish in many ways, showing that she is not as practical as she seems to be in regards to so many other situations.

1. Do you think Sally's reaction towards her daughters growing up is normal? Why or why not? Use examples from "Practical Magic" and your own life to support your answer.

2. What other ways might Sally be able to cope with her feelings of uncertainty than going to bed? Use examples from "Practical Magic" and your own life to support your answer.

3. Do you think someone who is an adult and is practical should never act childish? Why or why not? Use examples from "Practical Magic" and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,161 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample