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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. Of what is Adam convinced?

2. Why does Henry say he used to be so sweet to Rowena?

3. How does Adam react to what someone says about the cause of the water problem?

4. Who comes out to the farm?

5. What kind of tree is Henry?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are Polly and Rowena described when Adam goes to school the next day?

2. What greets Adam when he wakes the next morning?

3. What does Sam say about Henry's stories?

4. What does Adam do after school and how do Eunice and Agatha and others treat him?

5. What does Rowena suggest looking for and what does Sam say about that?

6. What does Adam start doing for his mother and how does he frighten himself?

7. How does Rowena learn the truth about Henry's actions to her when he would visit Rowena's pa?

8. What happens when Adam tries the dowsing stick a few times and what is his mother's response to what he tells her about it?

9. What point of view is used in the Epilogue and who is the narrator?

10. What does one of the townspeople who come to see what is happening at Adam's family's farm say that causes Adam to feel guilty?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Wish Giver belongs to the children's book genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the children's book genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a children's book and a historical novel mystery?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of The Wish Maker, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in The Wish Maker. (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

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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