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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. Why does Calli consider climbing out the window?

2. What does Calli not like about her teachers?

3. Who was all Antonia ever needed?

4. How long has it been since the girl has spoken?

5. What does Louis recognize he needs to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Martin and Fielda's relationship like?

2. Who is banging on Antonia's door and what do they want?

3. What does Calli express about her father?

4. What is Ben's dream about and how is he feeling?

5. How does Ben see himself and what does he think about concerning the relationship among Calli, his father and himself?

6. How does Calli's previous times playing in the woods help her now?

7. What does Louis tell Fitzgerald about Griff?

8. How does the school nurse treat Calli's accidents?

9. What does Calli need to do when she wakes up early one morning?

10. What happens when Calli's father sees her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

It seems as if the reality of the situation isn't reaching through to Antonia. She can't believe her daughter's room is being taped off. She is basing the scenario on past situations. Calli was always wandering. As she filters through a mental list of people she should contact, the reader realizes that Antonia is very much alone. She doesn't want to voice that there is a problem because then she would have to accept that this was true. The reader can't help but wonder if this is symbolic of Calli's muteness.

1. Discuss denial in the context of the above statement with your thoughts on why Antonia might be in denial. Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

2. Discuss the isolation in which Antonia finds herself in the context of living with an alcoholic and abusive spouse. Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

3. Do you think it is human nature to not state a problem out loud because that would make it real? Why or why not? Do you think this means Antonia is a bad mother? Why or why not? Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Heather Gudenkauf.

2. What in Gudenkauf's background may have helped him in writing The Weight of Silence? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think The Weight of Silence is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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