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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 Rowena put in the pocket of her best dress?

2. Who is Henry Piper?

3. What has sprouted from Henry's feet?

4. Who angers Polly at recess?

5. About what does Polly begin to worry?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Rowena hear in the woods and what does she find?

3. What happens when Polly starts complaining to her mother the next morning about the burned toast?

4. Describe the discussion about Eunice and Agatha.

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

6. What does each story chronicle?

7. What types of people have sometimes come through Coven Tree and who is one such person the narrator mentions?

8. From what is the town's name derived?

9. What does Polly find and then lose?

10. What does Stew Meat do with his card?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "The Wish Maker".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of "The Wish Maker". How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of "The Wish Maker". How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Rick and Lon. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Lon and Nuke. 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 in "The Wish Giver" 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 3

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 Bill Brittain.

2. What in Brittain's background may have helped him in writing "The Wish Maker"? 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.

(see the answer keys)

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