Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. Why did Tree-ear's attitude toward work change?
2. What was the name of the river Tree-ear could see from the Rock of Falling Flowers?
3. What traits did Tree-ear think were close companions?
4. What did Crane-man often do when Tree-ear was coming home so late from work?
5. What did Tree-ear do when the two test vases were packed?
Short Essay Questions
1. How does Tree-ear feel and what does he do after the two men leave him at the Rock?
2. What is the story behind the place called Rock of the Falling Flowers and what has Tree-ear promised Crane-man about the place?
3. Why does Min make multiple versions of the same pot?
4. What do Tree-ear and Min do with the pots early in the morning and what does Tree-ear to for several days after?
5. How does Tree-ear feel about what Min said to him?
6. What does Min's wife tell Tree-ear about a possible living arrangement? What does Min tell Tree-ear to do at the end of the book?
7. What concerns Min about the emissary's kindness and what does Tree-ear tell Min's wife?
8. What does Tree-ear do when he finally is able to see the emissary?
9. What does Tree-ear do on his first day back at the village?
10. In Chapter 7, what does Tree-ear finally tell Min and what does Min have Tree-ear do? What does Tree-ear realize he has learned when he performs his task?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
When Tree-ear comes home with the rice Crane-man makes a joke about their constant struggle to find enough to eat. Throughout the book Crane-man makes jokes about very serious issues.
1. Do you think the jokes Crane-man makes are funny? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.
2. Joking about dire situations is called gallows humor. With research, explain the concept of gallows humor and why it is important to humans. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.
3. Discuss three examples of humor you would use in Tree-ear's situation and explain why you think they are funny and why they would help you in his situation.
Essay Topic 2
Tree-ear seems to be an honest, hard-working, and responsible boy.
1. Knowing what you know of Tree-ear's life thus far, how is do you think he could have developed the traits he demonstrates by his courage and persistence? Use examples from the book to support your answer.
2. What do you think is shown by Tree-ear's actions, given that Tree-ear going to Songdo by walking might be similar to a boy walking to a town 200 miles away in our present society? Use examples from the book to support your answer.
3. Do you think Tree-ear's behavior and actions are consistent with his age? Why or why not?
Essay Topic 3
Choose one of the following to discuss:
1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in A Single Shard. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Park chooses the symbols she does? Do you think Park consciously decides upon the symbols to represent various elements of A Single Shard? Why or why not.
2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in A Single Shard. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Park chooses the metaphors she does?
3. Discuss Park's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, cliffhangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Park use too many or too few literary techniques? State to which of the five major elements of fiction each literary device is related (style, character, plot, setting, theme).
This section contains 1,183 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |