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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 was Hagar's occupation at Mr. Oatley's house?

2. What did the young people do in the Manawaka winters?

3. What did Hagar fill the glass and silver wine decanter with?

4. What causes Hagar to cry on the bus ride home from Dr. Corby's office?

5. After the bus drops Hagar off in Shadow Point, what does Hagar forget to buy at the service station for provisions?

Short Essay Questions

1. Hagar is obviously unwilling to give in to death. How is that seen in Chapter 3?

2. Do you think Hagar's feelings about going to the nursing home are similar to other elderly people? Why or why not?

3. Describe how Hagar is dressed when, in Chapter 5, she sets out for Shadow Point. What do you think this says about her?

4. Why do you think Hagar tells her employer, Mr. Oatley, her husband died?

5. What are John's character traits in Chapter 5? Do you think they affect his future?

6. At the end of Chapter 4, why do you think Marvin decides Hagar will go to the nursing home in one week?

7. Do you think Hagar's life would have been different if she had not practiced emotional restraint?

8. Why is Hagar's name significant?

9. Compare the birth of Marvin the the birth of John, and Hagar's feeling with both.

10. Why is Hagar frightened when Marvin and Doris tell her they want to sell the house?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The stone angel in the cemetery is very symbolic throughout the novel.

Part 1) Describe the stone angel's significance in the cemetery?

Part 2) It has been carved without eyeballs, why is that important?

Part 3) How is Hagar like the stone angel at the beginning of the novel and at the end?

Essay Topic 2

Doris and Hagar are very different characters. Compare and contrast:

Part 1) how they dress.

Part 2) how they act toward each other.

Part 3) their different purposes in the novel.

How does their relationship end?

Essay Topic 3

Hagar's possessions are very important to her.

Part 1) Name some of her possessions and why they are important.

Part 2) What do her possessions trigger in the book when she sees them?

Part 3) What are these possessions worth to Hagar?

(see the answer keys)

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