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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. Why does Milton lead Marina into the water?

2. What hobby made Anders want to go to the jungle?

3. What does Marina leave with the lobby clerk?

4. Who is Anders Eckman?

5. What does Barbara do when she learns of Marina's plight?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Easter seem when he sees Marina and why did Milton bring Easter along?

2. What do Marina and the Bovenders discuss concerning Anders Eckman?

3. How does Milton inadvertently prove the Bovenders to be lying to Marina?

4. What does Fox explain about Dr. Swenson?

5. What does Milton say to Marina about the Bovenders?

6. Who are the Bovenders and where does Marina encounter them?

7. What does Marina think of Swenson's apartment and why does the doctor maintain it?

8. What does Marina feel about the river?

9. Describe Marina's visit to the opera.

10. What does the letter from Dr. Swenson say about Anders Eckman?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of State of Wonder and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why State of Wonder is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Ann Patchett.

2. What in Patchett's background may have helped him in writing State of Wonder? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in State of Wonder. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of courage in State of Wonder. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of ethics and morals in State of Wonder. How does the morals of a character show up? Who seems to have shaky morals? Who seems to have good ethics? How did the ethics and morals of the characters affect the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,125 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample