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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 Madre Badessa regret?

2. What do Alessandro and Margot discuss concerning the book she is restoring?

3. Who is Volmaro?

4. What reminds Margot of her mother's death?

5. What changes in Margot and Alessandro's relationship?

Short Essay Questions

1. When is Margot ready for the final phase of restoring Aretino; where does she go for help in this phase and what does she do?

2. What do Sandro and Margot do and what is Margot's response?

3. Why do Margot and Sister Gemma have a discussion about religion when visiting Sister Agape?

4. What has Margot done to restore Aretino?

5. Where does Margot go to watch Sandro's work and how does he feel about what he is doing?

6. Besides not wanting to leave Sandro, why else is Margot reluctant to leave Florence?

7. What is Father Francisco's directive concerning the nuns disturbing him?

8. What does Madre Badessa say about Aretino?

9. What does Sandro think about as he looks at Margot as they are riding in a taxi in Chapter 14?

10. Relate Sandro's story about his love for a movie star when he was young.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Titles can often say much about a story. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think there is something ironic about the title The Sixteen Pleasures? Why or why not. Discuss fully.

2. What do you think are the Sixteen Pleasures? How do the sixteen pleasures relate to three of the main characters? Two of the minor characters?

3. Thoroughly discuss whether you think the title of the book is the best one possible and why. Why do you think the book is titled The Sixteen Pleasures? Would you be interested in reading this book if you saw it on the library shelf?

4. Discuss the title of the book in relation to the theme of religion. How are the two connected? Do you think religion as it is represented in The Sixteen Pleasures is contrary to the idea of pleasure? Who among the religious orders do you think would believe pleasure is a positive thing to seek? Who do you think would believe one should deny themselves pleasure? Discuss thoroughly with examples.

Essay Topic 2

Margot refers to the poem her mother had loved by Robert Frost entitled "The Road Not Taken." Margot realizes that there is no "other road." Her only life is the one that she is living now. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze and give a reader response to Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken." Consider such things as imagery, metaphor, syntax, rhythm, and of course, meaning.

2. Take your analysis of "The Road Not Taken" and trace and analyze how it is relevant to The Sixteen Pleasures. What characters are most concerned with the road not taken? What character(s) have irretrievably lost something important by taking a different fork? What character(s) cannot recover from a poor choice made at various forks?

3. Discuss one or two of your own "roads not taken." Do you still regret taking one road versus another in a particular situation? Do you think it would be good to let go? Can you go back and travel the other road? What "difference" has the choice made for you?

Essay Topic 3

Italy, which is very strongly Roman Catholic, has very strict divorce laws in the 1960s, and still stricter laws in the present day compared to the United States. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the divorce laws and options in Italy of the 1960s to the United States of the 1960s. How are the alike? Different? What do you think is the rationale for each country's divorce laws? Do you think Italian or American divorce laws in the 1960s were too strict? In the present day?

2. Compare/contrast the divorce laws and options in Italy of the 1960s to present-day Italy. How are the alike? Different? What do you think is the reason for their divorce laws? Do you think Italian divorce laws in the 1960s were too strict? In the present day?

3. Why do you think Alessandro is seeking an annulment to his marriage rather than a divorce? (this will require a little research). Do you agree with the judges' ruling? Should any couple be allowed to divorce just because one or both of them want a divorce? Why or why not. What is the purpose of making couples go through divorce? Does the idea of an annulment seem hypocritical in many cases? What about in Alessandro's case.

(see the answer keys)

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