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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. Why does Milton lead Marina into the water?

2. How does Marina feel in the opera box after the discovery that Dr. Swenson is there?

3. What shakes up Barbara?

4. What happens to Marina in the following days?

5. Why is Marina left behind as Dr. Swenson and the others start to walk?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Marina and Fox's relationship like and how does he act when he comes to her house the night before she leaves?

2. What does Fox explain about Dr. Swenson?

3. What does Marina tell Fox when she calls him the night after the opera and what is his reply?

4. How does Dr. Swenson react when she realizes Marina intends to come to the jungle with her?

5. What does Marina do when Barbara show her Dr. Swenson's mailbox?

6. What does Marina feel about the river?

7. Give a synopsis of the conversation between Karen Eckman and Marina that night?

8. What does Marina think of Swenson's apartment and why does the doctor maintain it?

9. What is Fox concerned about and how is his concern proven to be valid?

10. Who else shops at the store where Milton takes Marina and what does Marina wonder about the other foreigners?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss State of Wonder based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if State of Wonder is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider State of Wonder a successful novel? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

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

3. Trace and analyze the theme of ethics and morals in State of Wonder. How does the morals of a character show up? Who seems to have shaky morals? Who seems to have good ethics? How did the ethics and morals of the characters affect the story?

Essay Topic 3

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Marina and Dr. Swenson. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Anders and Jim Fox. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in State of Wonder help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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