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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. How long has Mavis been at the convent, according to the chapter "Grace"?

2. What story does Mavis tell the reporter?

3. What did someone paint on the oven?

4. What color was the Cadillac originally?

5. What does Seneca put on Sweetie's shoulders?

Short Essay Questions

1. What means do the Morgan twins use to help their nephew out of trouble when he impregnates Arnette?

2. Why did the founders of Ruby decide to name the town Ruby instead of New Haven?

3. Why do some of the residents leave Haven to found the town of Ruby?

4. Why is there instant animosity between Mavis and Gigi?

5. What are some of town situations that Dovey Morgan thinks about?

6. Why does Mavis become frightened during the interview, and why does she decide to flee?

7. How does the plot not flow in a chronological manner in the chapter "Ruby"?

8. Why did Deek tell Roger to make sure all part's of Deek's son's funeral were black?

9. When there is a problem in Ruby who handles it?

10. Why did Seneca go to Wichita, and why was the trip unproductive?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the structure of the novel "Paradise". Is the plot progression chronological and linear, or does the presentation of the story move forward and backward in time? How does the structure of the novel affect the overall story?

Essay Topic 2

Do you believe that Mavis' family really intended or even wanted to kill her? Could there be another reason for Mavis believing that her family wanted to kill her?

Essay Topic 3

How would you describe the overall tone of "Paradise"? Does the tone change from chapter to chapter? In the end, how much the narrator's tone affect your reception of the novel?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 695 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample