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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. How is Coven Tree described?

2. How is Rowena described?

3. What is the annual event about which Stew Meat starts his story?

4. How does Coven Tree derive its name?

5. What does Polly do later in the woods?

Short Essay Questions

1. About what does Polly begin to worry and what does she decide to do?

2. What is the Coven Tree Church Social and who is allowed to set up a booth there?

3. Why is narrator the best person to be narrating the story?

4. What do Agatha and Eunice try to do at tea the next day and how does Polly respond?

5. Why is Polly polite to everyone the next day at school?

6. What happens to Polly at recess and how do Leland and Lenora help her?

7. What does Polly want to ask her mother and why is she reluctant to do so?

8. What does Polly worry about the next morning and how is she initially reassured?

9. What does each story chronicle?

10. For whom is this book written and what is it about?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Over the course of "The Wish Maker", all three young people grow as a person in both complexity and understanding. "The Wish Giver" might be considered a slice of their larger story of their "coming of age." It might be said that "The Wish Giver" is a "bildungsroman" of the three young wish users. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of one of the three young people as she/he changes from a more carefree, innocent child to a wiser, young person. What are the significant events that change them?

3. After thoroughly analyzing one of the three's growth throughout "The Wish Maker", do you think "The Wish Giver" could be considered their Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in "The Wish Giver" who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 2

Each of the three "tales" in this collection is, essentially, a fable - that is, a story that illustrates a particular moral lesson or aspect of everyday existence. In other words, the story is told with the specific purpose of teaching the reader.

1. Discuss the moral and/or lesson that Polly's behavior has illustrated. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Discuss the moral and/or lesson that Rowena's behavior has illustrated. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Discuss the moral and/or lesson that Polly's behavior has illustrated. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

An element common to all three stories continues to manifest. This is the idea that in each story, characters with negative attributes are clearly and vividly contrasted with characters who have opposite, more positive attributes.

1. Who is the positive character(s) who are contrasted to Polly's character? Discuss how they contrast and what Polly might be able to learn from that character(s).

2. Who is the positive character(s) who are contrasted to Rowena's character? Discuss how they contrast and what Polly might be able to learn from that character(s).

3. Who is the positive character(s) who are contrasted to Adam's character? Discuss how they contrast and what Polly might be able to learn from that character(s).

(see the answer keys)

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