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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 Sophie compare the experience of the wave to?

2. Who does Sophie ask for more information about Rosalie and Uncle Dock?

3. What does Sophie wish, as the travelers cross through Wales?

4. What do the travelers eat on the bench near a London landmark?

5. Where is Rosalie leaving for?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Sophie describe life on the boat in the turbulent water?

2. What do Stew and Mo argue about?

3. When the travelers arrive in Ireland, who are they able to reach by phone?

4. What does Cody notice that Sophie does when retelling the story of their journey?

5. What dreams does Cody have about Sophie, after the storms are over?

6. What happens to the sails in the heavy wind?

7. What does Sophie hear when Cody is actually asking about her harness?

8. How does Sophie describe the color of the sea?

9. What is the weather like, the first night on the open ocean?

10. What gift does Cody give his father?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of Sophie's primary personality traits is curiosity. Discuss Sophie's curiosity.

1) Why is Sophie curious about every new thing she encounters? Why does she ask so many questions?

2) Why does Sophie imagine living the lifestyles of new people she meets? What does imagining different lives do for Sophie?

3) How is Sophie's curiosity and enthusiasm contrasted with Brian's negativity and practicality? Is Sophie a dreamer because of her curiosity and enthusiasm?

Essay Topic 2

The characters argue with each other throughout the novel. Discuss the significance of arguments in the novel.

1) Why do some characters argue more than others? What causes Mo and Stew to argue? What causes Brian and Cody to argue?

2) What causes conflict and argument between Mo and Cody? What does this say about their relationship as father and son?

3) How are arguments different before the major storm, during the storm, and after the storm?

Essay Topic 3

The sea and The Wanderer are the main settings of this novel. Discuss setting and its importance in the novel.

1) Why is the sea the main setting of the novel? In what ways is the sea personified in the novel? What does Sophie expect from it? How does she respond to it?

2) How does The Wanderer function as a setting of the novel? What does the boat contribute to the novel? Why does the author set the novel on this boat?

3) How does setting affect the beginning and end of the journey, when the characters are in Kentucky, Grand Manan, Ireland, England, and elsewhere? How are these settings different from the sea and The Wanderer?

(see the answer keys)

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