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 does Chandra ask Koly to do before the family leaves for Varanasi?

2. Where are Hari's ashes scattered?

3. How does Sass want Koly to help with Hari's breakfast her first morning after the wedding?

4. What remedy does Koly give Hari for his cough during their first meeting after being married?

5. How is Hari's body prepared for its final trip to the Ganges after his death?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the evening of, and the events leading up to, Hari's death.

2. Explain what Koly's daydreams consist of in Chapter 4, after Hari's death.

3. Explain Chandra's expectations of her family's trip to the Ganges River.

4. Why does Sass treat Koly so poorly?

5. Sass demands, for the second time, that Koly give her the silver earrings. Explain why keeping these earrings is so important to Koly in Chapter 5.

6. How is Hari's death addressed?

7. How does the train ride to Varanasi seem to indicate that the outcome of this journey will be a poor one?

8. Describe the events that lead up to an envelope with Koly's name arriving at the Mehta's house each month.

9. Describe Koly's first night in her new home after she is married.

10. How does Sass justify her refusal to give Koly her pension money when Koly tells her she wants it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ceremonies and rituals are important in Koly's culture.

1) What event in the story has the greatest impact on the plot line? Explain your answer.

2) Describe the rituals surrounding an event in the story. Explain why they are important to the people participating in them.

3) Explain why the temples and shrines served as a backdrop for so much of the story.

Essay Topic 2

The metaphor of Koly as a homeless bird has significance in many places of the story. Choose one of the options below to write about.

1) Analyze the use of animals in the novel to symbolize Koly's plight, to ease her loneliness, and to serve other purposes.

2) Choose two other characters and use a metaphor to describe their situations in the story. Use examples to explain your choices.

3) Describe how Koly's journey towards freedom required her to break out of many cages.

Essay Topic 3

Koly shows courage in spite of the obstacles she faces in the novel.

1) At what point does Koly show the most courage? Justify your response.

2) Is there a difference between courage and survival instinct? Explain your answer and give examples of both in the novel.

3) Where does Koly get her courage from? Give three examples of her acting with courage and the result that occurs.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,224 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample