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 Sophie call her secret spot?

2. What comprises Sophie's myth?

3. What is significant about the postmark of the postcard that is from the Major to Hilde?

4. What is Spinoza's philosophy?

5. What does the note say inside Sophie's first envelope?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is an example of the Indo-European view of history concerning cycles of history that start over again?

2. Why would Sophie's banana have a birthday greeting on the inside?

3. Socrates could have escaped death through exile, but refused. What does this act say about his character?

4. Why does Sophie continue to do this homework, even though it is not required of her?

5. What are some of the increasingly odd connections between Sophie and HIlde? What do they mean?

6. Why is it important that Sophie designed her own myth?

7. Why were ancient people angry when they spoke to Socrates and he claimed not to know anything?

8. What is Sophie's den symbolic of? How?

9. When Sophie sees another girl in mirror who winks back at her with both eyes, what does this foreshadow?

10. Sophie receives mail addressed to Hilde. Is she silly or foolish for opening this mail? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Alberto teach Sophie these philosophy lessons? Was it for personal gain or as a selfless act?

Essay Topic 2

Evaluate all of the narrators. Which narrator do you prefer? Why?

Essay Topic 3

What is the main theme of this novel? Consider ideas past the philosophers' theories. What message did these philosophers have for the audience?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 801 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample