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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 surprises Renee about Kakuro's last name?

2. About what is Manuela joyful?

3. Why is Columbe been driving Paloma crazy?

4. What does Renee later think she should have done differently in response to the gift?

5. How does Kakuro ask Renee to dinner?

Short Essay Questions

1. With whom does Paloma have tea and how does she respond to the event?

2. What do Renee and Manuela discuss concerning Renee's upcoming dinner date?

3. Why does Paloma prefer her aunt and uncle over her own parents?

4. How does Renee give herself away as far as her intelligence to the new tenant?

5. What does Renee think is wrong with Columbe's thesis and why?

6. What does Paloma want of Renee when she comes to Renee's door at eight?

7. What does Paloma find interesting about the new tenant as concerns her mother?

8. How does Renee obtain a dress for her date and what disturbs her about the dress?

9. Why is Manuela happy about the new tenant?

10. What does Paloma feel and think when she hears her school choir singing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not? Did you feel that the vow Paloma makes at the end of the book is enough to consider it a happy ending in view of Renee's death? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "The Elegance of the Hedgehog" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "The Elegance of the Hedgehog" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of interesting questions raised by "The Elegance of the Hedgehog". Questions that Barbery most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Barbery's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Barbery's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Barbery and see if/where his life may have influenced his writing.

(see the answer keys)

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