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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. Who is Lucia's favorite sacrificial beast?

2. What was the thunder god's steed named in the section on joyous beasts?

3. What did Li Chun really do to the mayor's daughter?

4. Where did the impasse beast work at one time?

5. Who does the narrator suggest the sacrificial beasts martyred themselves for?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why can the sorrowful beasts never smile?

2. Why are birds illegal to have as pets?

3. How does Lefty "tame" the sorrowful beast?

4. What kind of creatures are joyous beasts?

5. What does the narrator think the sacrificial beasts sacrifice themselves for?

6. Where does the narrator like to hang out, and what does she do there?

7. What happens to Rain in Part I that is tragic?

8. What do humans decide to do with the remainder of the sacrificial beasts in Part II?

9. What kind of relationship does the narrator have with Lucia?

10. What is the nature of sorrowful beasts?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How and why is this novel an example of the genre of magical realism? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

Why is the narrator so fascinated with the returning beasts, in particular, and how do returning beasts represent the key to her unlocking all her major questions about the strange beasts? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

How and why do you think Ge employs ambiguity in both her descriptions of the relationships between sets of characters throughout the book, as well as concerning some major plot points? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 534 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample