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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 Edna find when she gets home?

2. What does Mildred want to try?

3. Who comes to the pigeon house while Robert is there?

4. Who is Mademoiselle Reisz?

5. Why does Léonce scold Edna?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when the cage door is left open by accident one day?

2. What does the letter say that Mildred receives from her family?

3. What does Madame Ratignolle ask of Edna and what does she think of the pigeon house?

4. Describe Mildred's first meeting with the "farm worker."

5. What is the creature's situation like at the opening of the story?

6. Where does Robert decide to go and how does Edna react?

7. What does Edna learn when she returns from Chênière Caminada?

8. Describe one of Edna's childhood crushes.

9. What does Edna find when she visits Mademoiselle Reisz and how does Edna react?

10. Who is Robert LeBrun?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Chopin's life may have greatly informed her writing. Discuss the following:

1. Research Kate Chopin and write a 2-3 informative essay about her life.

2. Choose one theme that occurs throughout most of Chopin's work and discuss it in relation to what you learned in your research about Chopin.

3. Can an author write an entirely objective piece of fiction without her/his own experiences influencing the work? Why or why not (in your opinion).

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in The Awakening.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of The Awakening. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of The Awakening. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in The Awakening or three of the short stories. 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 mental/emotional illness or immaturity in The Awakening or three of the short stories. Which characters struggle with some sort of emotional illness? Why? Which characters seem really healthy emotionally/mentally? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of tradition in The Awakening or three of the short stories. What is Leonce's view of tradition? Edna's? Robert? Alcee? Adele? What is the view towards tradition of two of the characters in each short story you choose? Why is tradition important to some characters? Is anyone willing to abandon traditional viewpoints? Who? What are the positive and negative sides to tradition?

(see the answer keys)

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