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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 Milton say he and Marina are like?

2. What does Milton say the Bovenders feel towards Marina?

3. For how long has Anders been dead when Marina receives a letter from the Amazon?

4. What shakes up Barbara?

5. What does Dr. Rapp research in the Amazon basin?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Marina go into the river and how does she feel about it?

2. Describe Marina's visit to the opera.

3. What does Karen say to Marina when Marina stops by to say goodbye?

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

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

6. Who is Mr. Fox and how does he react to the news about Anders Eckman?

7. Describe the conversation at the cafe between Marina and Dr. Swenson about Anders.

8. Who is Milton and how does he help Marina when she lands in Manaus?

9. Who are the Bovenders and where does Marina encounter them?

10. What does Milton say to Marina about the Bovenders?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

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

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 Ann Patchett.

2. What in Patchett's background may have helped him in writing State of Wonder? 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.

(see the answer keys)

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