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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 is the chamber in which Margot places the book?

2. What does Margot put in between the pages of the book she is working on?

3. Why does Sandro decide he will not ask Margot to marry him?

4. What has been embarrassing for Sandro?

5. Where does Margot go every afternoon to work on a book?

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. How does Sandro rationalize his deciding not to propose to Margot?

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

4. How does Margot learn that Sandro has deceived her about Volmaro and what does Margot decide to do about selling the book to Volmaro?

5. What does Margot send to the Bishop and how does she convince him that it is Aretino?

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

7. What does Sandro think about his day so far as he and Margot are eating at a Chinese restaurant?

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

9. How does Margot set up a false trail for auctioning Aretino?

10. What do the judges decide about Sandro's annulment application?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss one of the following in relation to The Sixteen Pleasures:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Margot at the beginning of The Sixteen Pleasures versus Margot at the end of The Sixteen Pleasures. How are they similar? How are they different? How does she change? Do you believe she is a better person at the beginning of The Sixteen Pleasures or at the end? Or do you think she has not changed? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Alessandro and Tony Reynolds. How are they similar? How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

The abbess challenges Margot to define which vow is the hardest to keep. The abbess gives the answer as obedience.

1. Which vow--poverty, chastity or obedience do you think would be most difficult to keep? Why?

2. Do you think taking vows for life is realistic--whether it's for a religious order or marriage? Is it serious to break a vow? What if you change and no longer believe the church's doctrine? Do you keep your vows no matter what?

3. Jesus, who is the one the Christians center their religion around, said in a book of the Christian's New Testament (Matthew 5:34): to swear no vows. Why do you think the Christian religious orders swear vows? Is this a paradox? Do you think vows are necessary to keep someone in the religious order? If someone doesn't want to be there, why would a vow keep them? Discuss these questions/ideas thoroughly.

(see the answer keys)

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