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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. How old is Cristoforo when Alessandra agrees to marry him?

2. In Chapter 1, why does Alessandra want to learn from the painter?

3. Why doesn't Alessandra talk to the painter when he first begins to paint her?

4. What does Alessandra like most about Cristoforo's copy of Divine Comedy?

5. In Chapter 1, why does Alessandra sneak into the artist's rooms?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Alessandra first sits for the painter in Chapter 5, what makes it difficult to speak to him?

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

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

4. After the murder in the church, what is the next murder to be discovered?

5. What does Cristoforo show Alessandra after they are married?

6. What does Alessandra do when the painter doesn't tell her what he thinks of her drawings?

7. Why does Alessandra say she wants to be married in Chapter 10?

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

9. What does Alessandra do after sitting for the painter for the first time?

10. What happens when Alessandra sneaks into the painters rooms in Chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore how the descriptions of the two frescoes in this novel reflect the character development of the major characters.

Essay Topic 2

What relationship between political and personal revolts does the author create in this novel?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze this novel as an example of historical fiction.

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