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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 Savonarola most often preach about?

2. Why does Alessandra struggle to paint in Chapter 4?

3. How does Alessandra respond to the news that she will marry Cristoforo?

4. What does Mother Superior discover about Sister Lucrezia's body?

5. In Chapter 10, where do Alessandra's parents talk to her about the French?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 7, what does Alessandra's family gossip about?

2. What does Alessandra criticize the painter for in Chapter 1?

3. What does the ringing bell in Chapter 17 remind Alessandra's mother of?

4. Why does Cristoforo want to marry Alessandra?

5. In Chapter 1, what does Alessandra's father relationship with the painter represent?

6. What happens during the church services in Chapter 11?

7. What happens when Alessandra tries to paint in Chapter 4?

8. Why do Alessandra's siblings argue about being painted in Chapter 1?

9. What happens after Cristoforo admits to being a homosexual?

10. In "Prologue," what happens after Sister Lucrezia dies?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What role does infidelity play in The Birth of Venus? How does the author portray infidelity as a positive thing? As a negative thing?

Essay Topic 2

Compare at least two leaders in The Birth of Venus.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the use of symbolism in this novel. Consider Alessandra's snake tattoo or the images in the frescos.

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