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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 raised Gary Hallet?

2. What does Gillian tell the girls when they ask where their mother has gone?

3. What was something that drew attention to Maria Owens when she came to town?

4. From what state has Gary come to New York?

5. How does Sally feel when Gary begins to explain why he is there?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the aunts thinking when they arrive at Sally's house?

2. What does Kylie feel about going to her aunts that summer?

3. What does Ben tell Gillian about her abilities and what does she do as the result of his opinion?

4. What happens that causes Ben to talk about fate to Gillian?

5. What does Sally decide to do about Gary?

6. What do Kylie and Antonia see in the backyard, what does Gillian tell them to do and what does Kylie tell Gillian about Jimmy's ring?

7. What do the aunts do when their concoction is ready and what do their actions help?

8. What do Gillian and Sally do when Gary leaves and why?

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

10. What does Gideon do after his mother tells him what is going to happen and how does he know if Kylie and him are still friends?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Alice Hoffman.

2. What in Hoffman's background may have helped Hoffman in writing "Practical Magic"? What may have influenced the way she depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 2

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Practical Magic" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Practical Magic" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Practical Magic is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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