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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 Sam say when Rowena asks him to wait until she returns?

2. What does Pa do with some barrels and wood from the hen house?

3. Who is at Adam's house when he arrives with the wagon?

4. What is in the pair of pants that Adam hangs in the closet?

5. What does Sam offer to do?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does Rowena hear about Adam at a party and what is her thought about it?

4. What does Adam promise his mother and what does this promise prompt Adam to do?

5. What surprises Adam and his mother?

6. What does Sam say he's been doing in the library and with what result?

7. How do the three young people turn out?

8. What do Rowena's parents hear and then learn when they investigate?

9. 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?

10. What does Stew Meat say happens just as he is closing his store?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and often times 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 Wish Giveris? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as "The Wish Giver" help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading "The Wish Giver"? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in "The Wish Giver" to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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