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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 does Margot remember about Señor Bruni?

2. Who introduces herself to Margot as she is exploring?

3. What do the nuns show Margot?

4. What happens to the taxi in which Margot is riding?

5. What does the conductor reveal to the two women in Margot's compartment?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are two of the postulants in trouble?

2. How does the situation about the cassette tapes affect Margot's life even years later?

3. How does Margot first offend two American travelers on the train and then bond with them?

4. What are Margot's impressions of Professor Eugene Chapin?

5. What is the significance of Harvard University to Margot?

6. Who is Margeaux, and describe a scene that Margeaux is good at.

7. Describe Margot's discussion of the library with Madre Badessa.

8. Why is Margot drawn to some frescoes she views in the convent and how is that uncharacteristic of her?

9. What does Margot discover about the book that the Abbess gives into Margot's care?

10. What is the significance of the cassette tapes when Margot's mother is dying?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The subject of marriage is woven throughout The Sixteen Pleasures. Discuss the following:

1. Discuss the idea of annulment versus divorce. Why would one seek an annulment rather than a divorce? Was divorce even legally possible in Italy in 1966? Is it possible in Italy now? What are the reasons one can receive a marriage annulment? What role does the Catholic Church play in why one would seek an annulment versus a divorce.

2. In The Sixteen Pleasures, Margot is 29 and has not been married and is sexually involved with three different men during the course of the book. Trace and analyze Margot's romantic relationships. Are they healthy? Why do you think she has not married? Do you believe she wants to be in a marriage some day? Being sexually involved before marriage during the 1960s was frowned upon much more than now. Do you think it bothers Margot that she openly violates social convention? What is the Italian attitude towards a woman who is sexually involved with a man she is not married to?

3. Trace and analyze Alessandro's attitude towards marriage. What do you think he believes about the institution of marriage? Why do you think he wants to be released from one marriage only to begin another one immediately? Does it seem to bother Alessandro that he is committing adultery? Do you think the Italian attitude towards men who commit adultery is different than towards women (particularly in the 1960s)? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Margot is drawn to the nun's way of life, though she is not interested in actually becoming a nun. Discuss the following:

1. Research the cloistered lifestyle of the Catholic Church and write an informative essay about what you learn. Answer such questions as: How do the different orders vary? Why do women or men choice to become nuns or monks. Is this life choice as prevalent now as in the 1960s? What is the attitude in Italy in the 1960s towards convents and monasteries? Is it similar to that in the present-day United States? What are the benefits of a cloistered life? What does one not experience that others who are not monks or nuns might experience?

2. Compare/contrast Margot's religious beliefs and feelings to that of Sister Gemma. Compare/contrast Margot's religious beliefs/feelings to that of Madre Badessa. Compare/contrast Sister Gemma's religious beliefs/feelings to that of Madre Badessa. How are they alike in the way they see religion in their lives? How are they different? What are the reasons each find some edification out of their religious beliefs? Is Margot less spiritual than the nuns? How does Margot express her spirituality? How does that differ from the ways the nuns do?

3. Compare/contrast the life of nuns/monks in the Catholic church with the life of nuns/monks in another religion; for example, Buddhism. How is the life similar? Different? Is one more restrictive than the other? Which would you be most drawn to? Would you consider the cloistered life in any religious setting? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the Bishop with Madre Badessa. How are they alike? How are they different? Are each sympathetic characters? Who would you most likely have as a friend? Why? Is each one believable? Why or why not? Who seems more sincere? Who seems to take his/her religion more seriously?

2. Compare/contrast the culture of Italy of 1966 with that of the United States. How are they alike? How are they different? Which culture do you most relate to? Which culture is more influenced by the Catholic church? How does the culture of Italy contribute to the story as a whole? How would the story change if set in the culture of the United States at that time?

3. Compare/contrast the attitude towards art in Italy with your own experience and attitude towards art? Who takes art more seriously? Is art more important in the culture of Italy than in your own culture? Why or why not?

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