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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 does van den Meer plan on revealing the painting he commissioned?

2. After the Master's painting is met with great success, what does he ask Margarethe?

3. When the book begins, from what country have the Fishers fled?

4. What happens to the van den Meers' wealth at the end of Chapter 3?

5. Who is Clara?

Short Essay Questions

1. What lesson does Margarethe want Iris to take away from their discussion about how everyone is trapped in their life by some circumstance?

2. What is Iris's role to be at the van den Meers?

3. What does van den Meer's lost wealth mean for Margarethe's plan?

4. What leads to a shift of power in the marriage of van den Meer and his wife?

5. Why does Iris ask Margarethe specifically to teach her how to cook and prepare a meal?

6. What painting does Heer van den Meer commission Schoonmaker to paint?

7. Where does Henrika's wealth come from?

8. What does the reader learn about Ruth's character and personality by the end of Chapter 1?

9. What goals is Marie de Medici trying to achieve through the ball?

10. What is Iris's relationship with her mother like in the beginning of the novel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the central themes of Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is the exploration of beauty. What is Maguire's definition and concept of beauty? What are society's definitions of beauty at the time the novel is taking place? Choose one character in the novel who is traditionally beautiful and discuss what makes him or her so; choose one character in the novel who is truly, but not traditionally, beautiful, and discuss what makes him or her so.

Essay Topic 2

While a seemingly small item at the beginning of the text, tulips become critically important by the end of the novel. Discuss what tulips symbolize in the text and how their symbolism changes as the story progresses.

Essay Topic 3

Many things are in juxtaposition in the text. Pick three characters, themes, settings, or other examples of juxtapositioning and explain how Maguire sets up the juxtaposition, the role the juxtaposition plays within the story, and what message Maguire is trying to send through each contrast.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 796 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample