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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 the narrator feel that Charlotte temporarily gives him?

2. What does the narrator scrounge up enough money to buy?

3. Who is Beria?

4. Where does the narrator spend days?

5. Why does the narrator lie to Pashka?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the narrator imagine Charlotte in France and what does he do that he does not usually do when preparing for her visit?

2. How does Pashka feel about the narrator's new popularity and what does Pashka do about it?

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

4. Why does the narrator feel guilty concerning his grandmother?

5. How does Pashka almost drown once?

6. What does the narrator do upon returning from Russia?

7. Why does the narrator think he is being accepted by his classmates, what does he see as the three types of cliques in a crowd and how does his acceptance affect his writing?

8. What do the narrator and Pashka do on their fishing trips?

9. What does the narrator do about a place for Charlotte when she comes to visit?

10. Why does the narrator hire a private detective?

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 novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Dreams of My Russian Summers" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Dreams of My Russian Summers" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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