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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 does Nailer do to Lucky Girl with his knife?

2. What is one of the worse things that can happen to a member of the crew?

3. For how many days does the storm rage?

4. Where does Nailer go for help?

5. What does Nailer decide to do to save himself?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the ritual of making the girl a crew member.

2. What is the attitude about luck among Nailer's community and how will that affect Nailer's relationship to others after his almost dying.?

3. How does the girl try to ensure that Nailer and Pima will not change their minds and kill her?

4. Who cares for Nailer's wounds?

5. What do the three do the next morning?

6. What happens during the storm and immediately in the aftermath of the storm?

7. How does Nailer fare in the oil when he falls into a pool of it?

8. What does the crew think will happen to Sloth?

9. What do Pima and Nailer find in the galley that makes it obvious that this is a massive Lucky Strike?

10. What do Nailer and Pima learn about who Lucky Girl really is?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in Ship Breaker. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Bacigalupi chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Bacigalupi chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Bacigalupi's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Bacigalupi use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in Ship Breaker. 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 Ship Breaker. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of class in Ship Breaker. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,285 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample