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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 the Baroque period known for?

2. In a Baroque work by Holberg, what question is posed?

3. What guise does Sophie arrange so she can meet Alberto in person?

4. Why is Thor a powerful God?

5. What is Albert Knag's occupation?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Alberto dress in costume to reflect his teachings? Does this enhance his lessons?

2. Why does Sophie decide to go into a stranger's cabin?

3. Is Sophie's mother's reaction to her daughter's studies and new attitude realistic? Why?

4. What is an example of the Indo-European view of history concerning cycles of history that start over again?

5. What kind of teacher is Alberto? Why?

6. Sophie immediately thinks about the first question, "Who are you?" How does this indirectly characterize her?

7. How are Hilde and the Major connected to Sophie, as known by Chapter 13? Why?

8. Why would Sophie not go with Joanna after classes?

9. What are some of the increasingly odd connections between Sophie and HIlde? What do they mean?

10. Characterize Sophie's religion teacher when she questioned Sophie's answers on a test.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Did Sophie succeed in her philosophy course? What was her goal or expectation as she began it? Was it possible for her to succeed?

Essay Topic 2

As the novel closes, what is Hilde's opinion of her father? Did this experience bring them closer or hurt their relationship? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Look at the chapter titles. The first title is "The Garden of Eden." Why would Gaarder begin his novel this way? Some of the titles are simplistic, such as the names of philosophers. Others have more meaning. Analyze these titles and relate them to the deeper meaning presented in the corresponding chapter.

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