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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 month does Sandro decide Margot is?

2. What do the judges take seriously?

3. What does Sandro think has changed about Margot from when he first met her?

4. About what does Volmaro say he is being generous?

5. Who becomes ill in Chapter 9?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe the first scene in Volmaro's office when Margot arrives to negotiate the sale of Aretino.

3. Describe Margot's meeting with the Bishop.

4. How does Sandro shock Margot a couple weeks after the fresco removal?

5. How does Margot act after Sandro has moved back to Rome?

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

7. What does Madre Badessa say about Aretino?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation whereby Alessandro pleads impotence as a reason for the annulment from his wife, then he is actually impotent with his lover, Margot. What are three other examples of irony in The Sixteen Pleasures? How does irony create a more complex plot? More complex characters? Does irony create a more interesting story? Why or why not.

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use of and meaning of five symbols found in The Sixteen Pleasures.

3. Discuss the use of foreshadowing in literature. What is the purpose of foreshadowing? Cite four examples of foreshadowing and how it is used to indicate events to come in The Sixteen Pleasures. How do you feel as a reader if you think something is foreshadowed that is never addressed in the story? How do you feel as a reader if a major event occurs with no hint of it whatsoever earlier?

Essay Topic 2

Margot learns about the inner workings of the convent and its vast land holdings as well as the politics of the church. Discuss the following:

1. Discuss the idea of a church holding great wealth. Do you think a church should have a great deal of wealth, or should it be spending everything to help people to have better lives? Why would a church hold on to its wealth rather than distributing it?

2. Discuss the paradox of the words, "In God We Trust" appearing on paper currency in the United States.

3. The Bishop, who has taken a vow of poverty, is quite concerned with controlling the assets of the convent. Who do you think should control the convent's assets? Do you think the Bishop has the convent's best interests at heart? Why or why not.

4.

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?

(see the answer keys)

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