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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 much money does Boris say he is giving to Theo when he finally appears at the Amsterdam hotel in Chapter 12: “The Rendezvous Point”?

2. What psychiatric disorder had Mr. Barbour been diagnosed with?

3. Who is Mrs. Barbour’s friend that gave her the dogs after the death of her husband and Andy?

4. For how long does Boris tell Theo he worked for Mr. Silver in Chapter 10: “The Idiot”?

5. What item does Theo buy at a sporting goods store to storage along with the painting in Chapter 8: “The Shop-Behind-the-Shop, continued”?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Theo describe his time spent with Pippa in Chapter 10: “The Idiot”?

2. How does Theo describe his business dealings in Chapter 9: “Everything of Possibility”?

3. Why does Theo study relentlessly in Chapter 7: “The Shop-Behind-the-Shop”?

4. Why does Theo assist Hobie and help out with the shop in Chapter 8: “The Shop-Behind-the-Shop, continued”?

5. How does Theo go about trying to contact Boris in Chapter 12: “The Rendezvous Point”? Is he successful?

6. What leads to the conflicts between Theo and Kitsey in Chapter 10: “The Idiot”?

7. What letters does Theo write in Chapter 12: “The Rendezvous Point”? Why?

8. What does Theo learn about Havistock Irving from Hobie in Chapter 10: “The Idiot”?

9. When does Chapter 10: “The Idiot” begin? What obstacles is Theo facing in the beginning of the chapter?

10. How is Boris injured in Chapter 11: “The Gentleman’s Canal”? How do Boris and Theo escape?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Lucius Reeve in the novel. Where has Theo first met Lucius Reeve? What are Lucius Reeve’s actions, objectives, and obstacles in the story? How has Mr. Reeve come to the conclusion that Theo has The Goldfinch?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the themes of aesthetic beauty and art in The Goldfinch. How is the value of art described and illustrated through the narrative? What does the painting The Goldfinch represent symbolically to Theo? Why? What characters in the novel appreciate art and aesthetic beauty?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the theme of grief in the novel and discuss Theo’s thoughts and emotions upon learning of the death of his mother. How does Theo describe his sense of “numbness”? What imagery and symbolism does the author employ to help develop this theme?

(see the answer keys)

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