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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 rickshaw driver at the train station tell Koly?

2. What does Koly notice as they travel to the temple in Vrindavan?

3. Why does Koly have a hard time sleeping her first night in Vrindavan?

4. What finally gives Koly the courage to approach the man in the government office about her pension?

5. What does Koly see in the marketplace on her way home from the government office in Chapter 6?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Koly and Sass's first interaction with the rickshaw driver.

2. Describe the room that Koly stays in at Maa Kamala's.

3. How does the rickshaw driver help Koly in Chapter 8?

4. Describe Chandra's feelings about her marriage in Chapter 7.

5. Describe Koly's financial situation in Chapter 8.

6. Describe Raji's plans for the future as he describes them to Koly in Chapter 9.

7. Explain why the benefactor funds the widow's home where Koly stays.

8. Describe Koly's introduction to Maa Kamala's home.

9. Who is Mala and what is she like?

10. Describe Koly's first day of work stringing marigolds.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Loneliness in this story is evident, not only with Koly, but with many characters in Homeless Bird. Choose a character from the story, other than Koly, and answer the following questions:

1) Explain why you believe that loneliness is a motivating factor in this character's decisions or actions.

2) Identify connections that this character makes, refuses to make, or misses out on that could have eased his or her loneliness.

3) What substitutes for human closeness does this character use, and how effective are they?

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

Hari and Koly are both very young people forced into marriage.

1) What foreshadowing exists in the novel that predicts the outcome of their marriage?

2) How does Hari's existence continue to affect Koly after he is gone?

3) What positive and negative outcomes result from Hari and Koly's marriage?

(see the answer keys)

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