View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What causes Pashka to cry?

2. Why is the narrator not allowed to travel to the USSR?

3. What does the narrator do that makes him feel comforted?

4. To what does Charlotte compare people who die?

5. What does Pashka demand to know from the narrator?

Short Essay Questions

1. What catches the narrator's attention almost obsessively?

2. How does the narrator's encounter with the girl with russet-colored hair occur and how does it work out between them?

3. Why does the narrator not call or write Charlotte after he finds her and what does he do while waiting to see her?

4. What does the narrator feel when he is staying in the tombs and what symptoms did he think he had?

5. Why does the narrator begin to write Charlotte's life and what does he want to know about her as he is writing?

6. What does the narrator begin to learn in Chapter 12 in class to protect the fatherland and how does he feel about the process of learning this?

7. What story does the narrator relate to Pashka?

8. Who does the narrator notice while doing sequences and what does he notice about her?

9. What does the narrator relate about a man named Beria?

10. What does the narrator realize concerning his grandmother and France?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an important part of what makes "Dreams of My Russian Summers" interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the narrator. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Charlotte. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Pashka. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as "Dreams of My Russian Summers" help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading "Dreams of My Russian Summers"? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in "Dreams of My Russian Summers" to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "Dreams of My Russian Summers" is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,294 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample