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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 Shelby tell Beck he has to convince Sam to believe?

2. What does Sam say becoming a wolf does to a person?

3. What do Grace and Sam discuss?

4. What does Rachel later say about Sam to Grace?

5. Who do Grace and Sam encounter outside the Crooked Shelf?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sam do in Mrs. Brisbane's studio?

2. What shots do Grace and Sam receive and how could that have been avoided?

3. What does Sam know he has to tell her and what does he finally tell her?

4. What does Sam remember about Shelby and what happens when he enters the Brisbane's kitchen?

5. Describe the conversation between Grace, Sam and Rachel when Sam and Grace arrive at school.

6. What does Isabel Culpepper tell Grace?

7. What does Grace ask Sam concerning his request to see her mother's studio and what does Sam reply?

8. What do Sam and Grace discuss as far as the wolf attack on Grace?

9. Why does Sam suddenly decide to leave the studio and what does he hear as he does so?

10. Why does Sam go to the post office and what does he realize from that trip?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Over the course of "Shiver", Grace grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. Shiver might be considered a slice of Grace's larger story of her "coming of age." It might be said that Shiver is a "bildungsroman" of Grace Brisbane. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Grace as she changes from a more carefree, innocent girl to a wiser, young woman. What are the significant events that change Grace?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Grace's growth throughout "Shiver", do you think the book could be considered Grace's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in "Shiver" who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 2

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 Maggie Stiefvater.

2. What in Stiefvater's background may have helped him in writing "Shiver"? What may have influenced the way he 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 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)

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