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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 happens when a thunderstorm hits?

2. What does Paul say he would be sad about if Erik dies?

3. How does Mike Costello die?

4. What does Paul's mother say about Paul not being able to play soccer?

5. Why does the coach say handicapped people cannot play sports?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Paul say about how his mother has arranged their move?

2. What memory does Paul recall when he starts school on Monday?

3. To what does Paul wake on August 9, who does he tell and what does she say to him? What do they do about the problem?

4. Who comes by the house from the Owners' Association, who is his son and what happens when Paul's father returns home?

5. What boy Paul's age does Paul meet and what does he see while Paul watches soccer practice?

6. How do Paul and his mother arrive in Florida, and what does Paul's father say when they arrive?

7. What do the parents of the football players decide to do and how does the coach respond to their suggestion?

8. What does Paul's mother do about Mike's death?

9. What does Paul and his mother learn about muck fires, and what happens when a thunderstorm hits?

10. What is Paul's mother's response about him being kicked off the soccer team?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Paul. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Mrs. Fisher. 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 Erik. 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.

Essay Topic 2

Over the course of Tangerine, Paul grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. Tangerine might be considered a slice of Paul's larger story of his "coming of age." It might be said that Tangerine is a "bildungsroman" of Paul Fisher. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Paul as he changes from a more carefree, innocent boy to a wiser, young man. What are the significant events that change Paul?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Paul's growth throughout Tangerine, do you think Tangerine could be considered Paul's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in Tangerine who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

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

2. Analyze and discuss Tangerine based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Tangerine 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 Tangerine a successful novel? What about young teens?

(see the answer keys)

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