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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 girls realize?

2. What does Miri realize at daybreak?

3. What does Olana allow the girls to do in the summer?

4. What does Miri tell Britta was Miri's first opinion of the prince?

5. How is the prince when the girls are introduced?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why can the academy not continue for the winter?

2. What does Marda reveal to Miri and what is Miri's thoughts about the matter?

3. How does Miri get help for the girls?

4. Why does Dan threaten to kill Miri?

5. What does Dan declare during the standoff, and what do the other bandits want and consequently do?

6. How does Miri learn about who Britta really is?

7. What does the chief delegate tell the girls and what is Miri's response?

8. What does Britta teach Miri?

9. What do Miri and Esa think about concerning the prince?

10. How do the girls and the school prepare for a ball, and how do the girls treat Miri?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter Fourteen the girls are dealing with their expanded knowledge of the world: they do not want to betray their families in the village, but they now need to satisfy their curiosities about the outside world. Miri knows that the prince may not like her and she has no desire to marry a stranger, but she does want to be academy princess to prove to everyone else and herself that she can be good at something. She has long been disappointed about not being able to work in the mines, convinced she is too small and weak and is a burden to her family and the village.

1. Why do you think learning to read has changed the girls' perspective on the world? Use examples from the text and your own experiences to support your answer.

2. Miri wants to prove to everyone and herself she is good at something. This is called external validation. Discuss what you think is the difference between having to have others think that you are good at something in order to feel good about yourself as opposed to feeling good about yourself no matter what others think. Use examples from the text and your own experiences to support your answer.

3. How do you think feeling that she is small, weak and a burden on her village has affected Miri as a person? Use examples from the text and your own experiences to support your answer.

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 "Princess Academy" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Princess Academy" 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

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in "Princess Academy". 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 seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of courage in "Princess Academy". Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of the fulfillment of dreams in "Princess Academy". How did Miri's dreams and hopes change over the course of the book? What about Katar? The Prince? Peder?

(see the answer keys)

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