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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. Before the large dinner party where his painting of Clara is revealed, what does the Master do to help comfort Ruth?

2. When Clara is young and throwing fits, which character is the only person who is able to pull her out of her fitful state?

3. What role does Margarethe take in Schoonmaker's household?

4. How does the Master respond to the success of his painting of Clara?

5. What does Clara believe happened at the windmill?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kind of tone does the Prologue have?

2. What does the title of Chapter 3, "The Girl of Ashes," refer to?

3. Why does Clara pout about attending the event where her painting is unveiled?

4. When Cornelius discovers that Schoonmaker has not been invited to the wedding, what does he ask Iris to do?

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

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

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

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

9. How does Clara change after the incident at the windmill?

10. When Heer van den Meer first asks for Iris to come to his house and work for him, Iris wishes she could be an inanimate object. What does this symbolize?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although they are small, there are multiple examples of foreshadowing present within the novel. Find three specific examples of foreshadowing and discuss what they are, what they symbolize, and what they foreshadow. Make sure to use specific citations from the text to support your position.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Margarethe makes a point of telling Iris about the importance of knowing when to "jump." What does she mean by this? Choose three parts of the novel where Margarethe "jumps" and what happens as a result. Make sure to use direct evidence from the text to support your position.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 754 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample