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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. Who is a member of the Fisher family?

2. Why is Clara upset about what Sinter Klaas left in her shoe?

3. What is kermis?

4. Why does Clara become so upset when van den Meer tells Margarethe that the hutsepot she makes for Lent is the best he's ever had?

5. What kind of paintings does Schoonmaker secretly paint?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Henrika's wealth come from?

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

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

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

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

6. What revelation does Iris have about her mother during her mother's marriage ceremony?

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

8. How do the Fishers end up at the van den Meers' house?

9. What revelation does Iris have about her new step-father during his marriage ceremony?

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

Henrika's death is very suspicious, especially given Margarethe's delusional confession in the kitchen on the night of the ball. Present an argument as to why Margarethe did or did not kill Henrika, making sure to use specific evidence from the text to support your position. Also make sure to include any motives that Margarethe may have had for killing -- or not killing -- Henrika.

Essay Topic 2

Paintings play a crucial role in Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. Choose three paintings that are mentioned in the text and discuss 1) who and what they physically represent, 2) who and what they symbolically represent, and 3) how Maguire uses them to advance and influence the plot. For each painting, use at least one (and preferably two) citations from the text to support your physical description.

Essay Topic 3

Complete a character analysis of the Queen of the Hairy-Chinned Gypsies. What kind of character is she? How does her character change throughout the novel (or does it)? What role does she play in the text? What is the reader supposed to think of her? Does the reader's opinion of her change as the story progresses? Is she a "good" character, a "bad" character, or both? What literary tools does Maguire use to develop her character?

(see the answer keys)

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