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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 do Margot and the abbess discuss concerning nuns?

2. About what does the abbess challenge Margot?

3. Who is Professor Eugene Chapin?

4. What does Margot's mother decide to do when she is dying?

5. What is one thing Margot learns about the Catholic Church?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Margot's new living quarters remind her of and how does she change that?

2. Describe the scene when the taxi gets a flat tire.

3. What are Margot's options for a room when she gets off the train in Florence?

4. Where does Margot end up staying and what does she do on her first morning in Florence?

5. What did Alessandro do on the day of the November 4th flood?

6. What do Margot and Madre Badessa discuss concerning the nuns' vows?

7. What does Margot decide to do in Chapter 1 and who is against her doing so?

8. How does Margot respond to working at the convent?

9. How does Margot react to the book that the postulants keep over night, and what is Madre Badessa's reaction?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Sixteen Pleasures could be said to be a "bildungsroman" of Margot. Discuss the following:

1. Define the concepts "bildungsroman" and "coming of age."

2. Thoroughly trace and analyze The Sixteen Pleasures as a bildungsroman of Margot. Give specific examples. What does Margot learn? How has she changed? Is the change for the better?

3. Thoroughly trace and analyze The Sixteen Pleasures as a psychological study. Give specific examples. What is Margot's emotional/psychological state at the beginning of The Sixteen Pleasures? At the end? What would a psychologist say about Margot's actions? Alessandro's actions? Discuss three other characters in addition to Margot and Alessandro in relation to their emotional/psychological characteristics.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in The Sixteen Pleasures.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of The Sixteen Pleasures. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of v. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels and short stories have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of The Sixteen Pleasures, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in The Sixteen Pleasures. (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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