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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 Saskia's father take away from her in Chapter 12?

2. How does the young maiden die?

3. What is the title of Part 2?

4. What does Elke give to Saskia's father in Chapter 12?

5. Who is the author of "Spinners"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Saskia's father do while she is spinning threads in Chapter 12?

2. Who does the tailor meet along the side of the road in Chapter 7 and what does he ask them for?

3. Why does the tailor want Saskia's spinner in Chapter 11?

4. What classic story does "Spinners" borrow elements from?

5. Why doesn't the young maiden's father want the tailor to marry his daughter?

6. What happens when the miller becomes depressed in Chapter 6?

7. Why does the tailor approach the local spinner in Chapter 2?

8. What is the young maiden concerned about in Chapter 1?

9. Why doesn't the tailor invite Elke inside his house in Chapter 11?

10. What does Saskia promise herself at the end of Chapter 12?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and interpret the tailor as a character. What are his defining character traits? What is his role in the story? Is he the antagonist of the story? Why or why not? What are his goals and ambitions? What is his relationship like with Saskia?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the motif of family in the novel "Spinners". Describe Saskia's family. Is family important to her? In what way is her family life complicated?

Essay Topic 3

Summarize the "Rumpelstiltskin" fairy tale. Discuss which elements of the fairy tale Napoli incorporates into her novel as well the effectiveness of these elements in the story.

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