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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 see that reminds him of Charlotte?

2. What does the narrator think Charlotte would never leave?

3. What are the tekhnars?

4. Why does the narrator wander around France?

5. What does Mr. Bond encourage the narrator to do?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does the narrator learn from Mr. Bond about Charlotte in the last chapter?

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

4. 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?

5. How does Pashka almost drown once?

6. What happens when the narrator's mother goes for some medical tests?

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

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

9. What does Charlotte's last story for the narrator tell him?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of interesting questions raised by "Dreams of My Russian Summers". Questions that Makine most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Makine's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Makine's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Makine and see if/where his life may have influenced his writing.

(see the answer keys)

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