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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 is September like when she wakes?

2. Who is ill?

3. How is much of Fairyland kept together?

4. Who taunts the others in September's dream?

5. What does September say she has to do before doing what she wants?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the Panther and September wonder about the sleeping Marquess, and what starts to happen and why?

2. What dreams do September and Death discuss?

3. What does it mean to be ravished?

4. What does Nor tell September about everyone in the town and how September is like them?

5. Who is Mr. Map and what does he tell September?

6. What surprises September when she leaves Mr. Map's office?

7. How does September get food when she is back on her raft?

8. Where do September and her friends arrive after Calpurnia and Penny have left the group?

9. Who are the Tsukumogami and what do they do to September?

10. What does the Panther agree to do for September?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Here the most important element to note is how the author makes use of Fairyland's allergy to iron - or, more specifically, how September chooses to make use of that allergy in order to save herself, others, and ultimately Fairyland itself. This, in turn, can be seen as a powerful evocation of one of the narrative's central themes - through the power of choice, she turns an often crippling negative into a positive.

1. Discuss what you see are the symbolic reasons fairies are said to be allergic to iron. Use examples from your life and the text to support your answer.

2. Discuss what is meant by the following: through the power of choice, she turns an often crippling negative into a positive.

3. Discuss one situation in your life in which you or someone you know took a negative situation and turned it into something more positive.

Essay Topic 2

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Catherynne M. Valente.

2. What in Valente's background may have helped her in writing The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland? What may have influenced the way she depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

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.

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