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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 Rayona get for the "hard luck" prize?

2. What kind of car does Christine drive?

3. What is the name of Christine's best friend?

4. What year is the letter Christine is obsessed with supposed to be opened?

5. What does Aunt Ida tell Rayona comes in her cereal boxes?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Rayona tell Evelyn and Sky about her family?

2. When does Lee begin to feel confident in his abilities?

3. Why doesn't Ida want Willard to continue living with her after his face is repaired?

4. Why does Christine call her mother Aunt Ida?

5. What happens to Christine as she drives through the snowy landscape of Montana on the way to Lee's funeral?

6. Why does Christine never have a second child?

7. How does Ida feel about Clara when she first comes to stay with them and care for Annie?

8. What happens when Christine tries to commit suicide by driving off a cliff?

9. What is Dayton's house like?

10. What do Christine and Rayona do after Christine's suicide attempt is thwarted?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the character of Dayton and his impact on various characters throughout the novel. Why does Dorris introduce, but never confirm, the possibility of a homosexual relationship between him and Lee? Is Dayton a hero of the novel or just another flawed character?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the structure of the novel and the effect of having the story told from three points of view. How does the impact of the novel different if the story is told in the reverse order?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss how the three strands of the same story are woven throughout the novel like a braid. What is the symbolism of braids throughout the novel?

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