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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 is one of the narrator's first memories of childhood?

2. What does Michael feel upon seeing Hanna again?

3. What floor in the apartment building is the narrator directed to go in the beginning of Chapter 3?

4. What, at first, does Michael decide to be Hanna's motive?

5. What do the other defendants claim after Hanna's admission?

Short Essay Questions

1. What makes Frau (Hanna) Schmitz so angry in Chapter 8?

2. Describe the five defendants' roles, and their involvement in the crimes that brought them to the trial, as described in Part 2, Chapter 5.

3. Describe Hanna's bold and unconventional move during the trial, as outlined in Chapter 6.

4. Describe the memory the narrator discusses in Chapter 7, when he is four years old. Why is it significant?

5. As described in Chapter 10, where is Michael when he has an epiphany about Hanna? What is the epiphany, and how does Michael realize it?

6. Why is the narrator unable to take his eyes off of Frau Schmitz?

7. Describe the encounter between Frau Schmitz and the narrator in Chapter 6.

8. Describe the only time Michael sees Hanna by chance, in Chapter 16.

9. Describe the lines of reasoning the defendants (including Hanna) give for not unlocking the church doors, as explained in Chapter 9.

10. Describe the bicycle trip that Michael and Hanna take during Michael's Easter vacation.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Give examples of the instances in which Michael realizes Hanna gave clues to her illiteracy. Why was it necessary for Michael to be far removed from his life and the trial in order to come to the revelation that Hanna could not read or write? Why does Michael reason that Hanna is fighting her own battle of justice?

Essay Topic 2

During the trials it is discovered that Hanna had "favorite" prisoners, young women who were too weak to work, whom she had read to her much like Michael. What can the reader draw from this discovery? How does Michael feel about this? How could this revelation change the way in which the reader sees Hanna?

Essay Topic 3

While Hanna is in prison, Michael resurrects his practice of reading to her. How does this simple act define their relationship? What does it symbolize? How is it connected to Michael's idea that Hanna has advanced from dependence to independence?

(see the answer keys)

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