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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. Who speaks directly to September from the film?

2. What is a Marid?

3. How does September's future look?

4. What does The Marquess offer September?

5. Where does the sign post point?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is September contemplating when interrupted by the Marquess, and what does the Marquess say about September's journey?

2. What does September not do as she is leaving home and what is the explanation given for her not doing so?

3. Who is Calpurnia Farthing and whom has she rescued?

4. What is the House the two come upon and who lives there?

5. In how many directions does the signpost point; what are September's choices, and what does she decide?

6. Who is in the lobster cage; why is he in the cage and what can he do?

7. Where is September swimming and what is the shore like when she gets to it?

8. What does September decide about Saturday; what does Iago decide about Ell and what is Ell's response?

9. What must all travelers do, and what does Lye wash into September?

10. Who is the customs agent and what does she do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland. 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 courage in The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of freedom in The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland. Who has freedom in Fairyland? Who wants freedom? What types of freedoms are there besides physical freedom?

Essay Topic 2

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of interesting questions raised by The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland. Questions that Valente 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 Valente's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Valente'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 Valente and see if/where her life may have influenced her writing.

(see the answer keys)

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