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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 month of pregnancy is the narrator's mother entering?

2. What is said is the result of what Trudi's mother did?

3. How does the action Siegfried take because of his dream get out of hand?

4. Who does Trudi meet at the river one day?

5. Where does Hanna's mother go swimming?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Hanna learn from Trudi about her father?

2. What does Siegfried do as a result of the dream and why does he do so?

3. What does Hanna notice about Matthias after he receives a regular visitor and what does she say to Matthias about her observation?

4. What is rumored about the child of the local midwife?

5. What is the problem with the narrator's mother in White Lilacs and what does she do?

6. What happens when Hanna's baby brother is born?

7. What do the townspeople thing about Hanna's mother and how do they respond to her paintings?

8. What does Matthias tell Hanna about his life as a priest in training?

9. Describe Trudi Montag.

10. What is wrong with Renate's leg and why and how does Hanna try to fix it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Hanna and Renate. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of the architect and Manfred's father. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in Floating in My Mother's Palm help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

Essay Topic 2

Floating in My Mother's Palm belongs to the general fiction genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the general fiction genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a general fiction novel and a mystery?

Essay Topic 3

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 Floating in My Mother's Palm help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Floating in My Mother's Palm? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in Floating in My Mother's Palm to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

(see the answer keys)

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