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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 Marina think Fox should have told her?

2. Who is Dr. Thomas Nkomo?

3. Why does Swenson want Marina to stay?

4. What does Benoit find in a vegetative area of the river?

5. What is one thing in Easter's small storage box?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who are on the boat going to the trading post?

2. Why does Marina go into the jungle every day and what does she wonder about her doing so?

3. What else are the Martins good for besides fertility inducement?

4. How does Swenson say Dr. Rapp would react to a ill or injured tribal member?

5. Who does Marina meet at the docks the next morning and where does he take her?

6. What does Swenson tell Marina about Easter?

7. What does Marina find in her quarters?

8. What has Marina been doing since performing the C section, and what does she want to do?

9. What does Easter do that upsets Marina and how does Swenson react?

10. What shocks Marina one day as the boat from Manaus arrives, and how does she feel about it?

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

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.

Essay Topic 3

Characters are an important part of what makes State of Wonder interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Marina. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Dr. Swenson. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Jim Fox. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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