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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 many favors does Veronika ask for?

2. Does Eduard understand the pleasure Veronika gets from masturbating in front of him?

3. Why did Mari choose to admit herself to Villete even though she didn't need to?

4. Did Mari enter Villete voluntarily?

5. Does Eduard enjoy Veronika's music?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way does Eduard look different after Veronika has masturbated?

2. Why does Veronika regret not living a little "crazier"?

3. What happened to prompt Mari's first panic attack?

4. Why does Veronika decide to not touch Eduard even though she wants to while she masturbates?

5. How does Veronika feel when she listens to the Sufi flute music?

6. Why are most deaths in Villete sudden?

7. Why does Zedka decide to finally leave Villete?

8. Why were Eduard's parents happy when he started dating his first girlfriend?

9. What happened to Mari's career after her panic attacks started?

10. Why did Eduard hate living in Brazil while he was growing up?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the beginning of Veronika Decides to Die, the protagonist, Veronika, decides that she does not love her mother. In fact, she hates her mother. But as Veronika undergoes her transformation, her opinions of her mother transform too. Write an essay that explains the role family plays within the context of the story. What does Veronika think of her family? Why does she hate her mother when she first comes to Villete? Why does her opinion of her mother change? What prompts this change?

Essay Topic 2

Many of the residents of Villete suffer from some kind of mental illness. Paulo Coelho is sensitive when he touches upon the subject. He treats it with respect. Write an essay that explains how the story handles the issues associated with mental illness. Which characters in Veronika Decides to Die suffer from some type of mental illness? How did these characters come to Villete? What sort of treatment do they go through? Are they ever "cured" of their illness?

Essay Topic 3

Forbidden experiences are common to the characters in Veronika Decides to Die. Whether it be Zedka's forbidden affair or Mari's forbidden sexual experiences, the desire for the unknown is present. Write an essay that explains why the "forbidden" is so tempting to the characters in the story. What makes forbidden sexual experiences important to Mari and other members of The Fraternity? What made Zedka lust after her forbidden love even though she knew it may lead to her destruction?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 818 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample