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 effect does hearing the old tongue have on Jakob?

2. What is Athos' professional specialty?

3. How does Jakob approach listening to composers?

4. With what composer was Bella once obsessed?

5. What does Athos say luck requires?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Jakob learn English, and of what is he proud as he is mastering the language?

2. What does Kostas say about Palamas and Sikelianos?

3. Describe Alex.

4. What is Biskupin and what happens to it?

5. What thoughts does Jakob have about the Catalan Atlas and history?

6. What did Jakob Beer witness as he hid in the bog?

7. What does Jakob think concerning the dead?

8. Why do Athos and Jakob go to Athens and in what condition is Greece?

9. What incident does Ioannis relate, and of what does it remind Jakob?

10. Who is Athos and what does he pass on to Jakob?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss "Fugitive Pieces" based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if it is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider "Fugitive Pieces" a successful novel? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Anne Michaels.

2. What in Michaels' background may have helped her in writing "Fugitive Pieces"? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 785 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample