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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 physical injury does Marin inflict on Nella when she finds Nella snooping within the library?

2. Marin tells Nella that women can do nothing, and that only if they are very lucky can they even do what?

3. How does Nella locate the miniaturist who becomes a major and enigmatic part of the narrative?

4. How many dogs reside within the Brandt household?

5. How does Nella go about contacting the miniaturist to request an order?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Nella characterize the people in her life in relation to dwelling on the past?

2. For what reason does Marin always insist on taking the Brandt household's dogs to church?

3. How do Nella's expectations of Marin's reaction differ from Marin's real reaction when Nella tells her about Johannes's homosexuality?

4. How does Marin hurt Nella physically and why?

5. Describe Nella's first kiss with Johannes.

6. How do Marin's and Nella's views of Nella's situation in the Brandt household differ?

7. Describe Marin's character.

8. What warning does Otto issue to Nella concerning her parakeet and Marin?

9. What does Nella mean when she muses that Marin and Johannes are obsessed with "souls and purses" (27)?

10. For what reason does Nella decide to visit Johannes at his work?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a critical essay about the novel while using the critical power theory lens of feminist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the novel's treatment of gender roles, the depiction of the oppression of women, female empowerment, misogyny's role within society, or any other issues related to feminist theory that can be found in the book.

Essay Topic 2

William Faulkner once famously claimed that the most important literature deals with the subject of the human heart in conflict with itself. Explain how the theme of Individual versus Society is demonstrated within Jessie Burton's The Miniaturist.

Essay Topic 3

What is the function of Marin's character within the novel? Discuss the characterization methods used by the author in depicting Marin and include in your discussion the reasons that the author portrays her in these particular ways.

(see the answer keys)

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