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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 comes to Buddy's apartment the night he is supposed to leave for Jerusalem?

2. Why is Ellen Cherry's visit to Ultima a relief?

3. Who protects Spoon as she finds her way back to the Cathedral?

4. Who comes to visit Ellen Cherry for Christmas?

5. Which goddess is associated with the Dance of the Seven Veils?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe what happens to Spoon when she falls out of the window.

2. When Ultima and Ellen Cherry talk about art, Ultima says that some artists admit defeat and stop trying to be original. Ellen Cherry disagrees with this and says artists always strive for originality. Why do you think this conversation inspires her to begin painting again?

3. Describe what happens to Ellen Cherry when she plays the eye game looking at Spoon.

4. Describe the group of objects in Ellen Cherry's underwear drawer.

5. Without art and without Boomer, Ellen Cherry is beginning to feel that life is meaningless. What do you think Robbins is saying about the relationship between the meaning we give our lives and our endeavors and/or relationships?

6. Explain the final revelation evoked by The Dance of the Seven Veils.

7. Describe Ellen Cherry's feelings for Buddy after he tells her why he wants to destroy the Dome of Rock.

8. Patsy tells Ellen Cherry that it seems like Boomer loves her but doesn't like her, while he likes but doesn't love Ultima. Does this seem like a true representation of Boomer's feelings, based on what you know about him so far?

9. Explain the conversation that Ellen Cherry has with Patsy on the phone the day after she sleeps with Spike.

10. How can we interpret the fact that the ancient Salome performs the Dance of the Seven Veils in exchange for John the Baptiste's head and the modern Salome performs it because of Ellen Cherry's painting?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Consider Robbins' unique style. How do you describe it? What do you think it allows him to do that a more traditional style prevents? Analyze at least three specific examples to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the lessons revealed by each veil. Track that theme throughout the book, finding specific examples where it is explored by one or more characters and/or the narrative progression. Is there a linear development, where the character's perception changes over the course of the novel? Or is it simply elaborated and clarified? Does the lesson you chose seem specific to one character or do multiple characters reveal different aspects or possibilities?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the historical account in this novel, including Robbins' interpretations of the events with the generally accepted historical view. This requires some basic research. Be careful to limit your comparison to a manageable sequence of events. For example, do not try to track the entire historical background from the first temple to modern day Jerusalem. Choose a coherent part of the history detailed in the novel and limit yourself to that. You could, for example, choose to focus on the Jerusalem from the first temple to the second. Or, you might focus on the 20th century conflict between Israel and Palestine.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,685 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample