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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 frightens Theo and the women as they walk to find the woodshed?

2. How does Theo regard Miriam's midwifery?

3. What are Julian and Luke doing alone in the morning in Chapter 25?

4. How does Theo learn that Rolf has departed upon awakening after the burial of Luke?

5. Who has knocked at Theo's door in Chapter 21?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Miriam inform Theo of in the car, and what is his reaction? Who knows and who doesn't know the secret?

2. How does Theo choose the house he robs and how does he gain entry?

3. Summarize the confrontation between Xan and Theo.

4. What does Helena tell Theo when he returns, and why does she want him off the phone?

5. How does Theo plan for Julian to escape the attackers? Does the plan work? What is unsuccessful?

6. What do Theo, Miriam, and Julian learn when they listen to the radio?

7. What has happened to Rolf after Theo awakes after Luke's burial? What does Theo expect he is doing and what is his response?

8. How do Theo and the Five Fishes spend the rest of the relaxing day in Chapter 26?

9. What goes through Theo's mind when he sees the tree blocking the road in Chapter 27? What happens next?

10. What do Theo and Rolf discuss the morning after the car is pulled over? Do they seem to bond or argue?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many of the characters are obvious symbolic representations of ideas, viewpoints, and people in real life. Discuss the symbolism of the characters: who they are, and who or what they represent. Does this symbolic branding restrain their behavior? In other words, do they act a certain way only because of their underlying meaning? Discuss.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Theo's life before the book begins. How have the decisions he has made and the events he has lived through shaped who he becomes by the time we meet him? Discuss how these issues play a role in his quest to assist the Five Fishes.

Essay Topic 3

Infertility is a terrifying thought, and obviously the main theme of the book. What do you see now in our society that the author could have been inspired by to write of this subject? In other words, what is the infertility that is the subject of the book symbolic of in our culture? Use examples from the book to support the claims that you make.

(see the answer keys)

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