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. Who answers the door at Marshall's place?

2. What is one house where Nate and Ruby go full of?

3. What does Olivia say one should hold on to?

4. What is Cora fearful of as Thanksgiving approaches?

5. Where does Nate take Roscoe?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is worrying Ruby as Valentine's day is approaching?

2. Who finds Ruby in the clearing and what does he do and say?

3. What does Cora say in response learning she is still not pregnant, and how does this bring the sisters closer together?

4. What does Ruby do in the clearing after Olivia drops her there?

5. What is Ruby's weakness and how does Nate distract her from it for awhile?

6. What does Ruby do with Jamie on Christmas Eve?

7. What changes have been going on with Gervais?

8. Describe Ruby's confrontation at Marshall's place.

9. Describe Nate and Ruby's visit to the vacant apartment.

10. What does Nate ask Ruby when she returns his sweatshirt and how does she respond?

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 Lock and Key based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Lock and Key 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 Lock and Key a successful novel? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in Lock and Key. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Dessen chooses the symbols she does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Dessen chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Dessen's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Dessen use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of interesting questions raised by Lock and Key. Questions that Dessen 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 Dessen's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Dessen'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 Dessen and see if/where her life may have influenced her writing.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,185 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample