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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 can Margot do on Aretino in Sandro's apartment?

2. What might an American woman come to regret?

3. With whom does Volmaro say he had made an agreement about the book?

4. Who is Volmaro?

5. Where do Margot and Sandro go to eat after visiting Volmaro?

Short Essay Questions

1. When is Margot ready for the final phase of restoring Aretino; where does she go for help in this phase and what does she do?

2. What is Father Francisco's directive concerning the nuns disturbing him?

3. What do Sandro and Margot do and what is Margot's response?

4. What has Margot done to restore Aretino?

5. How does Margot learn that Sandro has deceived her about Volmaro and what does Margot decide to do about selling the book to Volmaro?

6. Why does Margot feel nervous when she returns to the convent after the first time she and Sandro make love and what is the outcome?

7. Relate Sandro's story about his love for a movie star when he was young.

8. How does Margot act after Sandro has moved back to Rome?

9. What does Margot ask Sandro as far as their visit to Volmaro and what is his reply?

10. What does Madre Badessa say about Aretino?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Italy, which is very strongly Roman Catholic, has very strict divorce laws in the 1960s, and still stricter laws in the present day compared to the United States. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the divorce laws and options in Italy of the 1960s to the United States of the 1960s. How are the alike? Different? What do you think is the rationale for each country's divorce laws? Do you think Italian or American divorce laws in the 1960s were too strict? In the present day?

2. Compare/contrast the divorce laws and options in Italy of the 1960s to present-day Italy. How are the alike? Different? What do you think is the reason for their divorce laws? Do you think Italian divorce laws in the 1960s were too strict? In the present day?

3. Why do you think Alessandro is seeking an annulment to his marriage rather than a divorce? (this will require a little research). Do you agree with the judges' ruling? Should any couple be allowed to divorce just because one or both of them want a divorce? Why or why not. What is the purpose of making couples go through divorce? Does the idea of an annulment seem hypocritical in many cases? What about in Alessandro's case.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation whereby Alessandro pleads impotence as a reason for the annulment from his wife, then he is actually impotent with his lover, Margot. What are three other examples of irony in The Sixteen Pleasures? How does irony create a more complex plot? More complex characters? Does irony create a more interesting story? Why or why not.

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use of and meaning of five symbols found in The Sixteen Pleasures.

3. Discuss the use of foreshadowing in literature. What is the purpose of foreshadowing? Cite four examples of foreshadowing and how it is used to indicate events to come in The Sixteen Pleasures. How do you feel as a reader if you think something is foreshadowed that is never addressed in the story? How do you feel as a reader if a major event occurs with no hint of it whatsoever earlier?

Essay Topic 3

The abbess challenges Margot to define which vow is the hardest to keep. The abbess gives the answer as obedience.

1. Which vow--poverty, chastity or obedience do you think would be most difficult to keep? Why?

2. Do you think taking vows for life is realistic--whether it's for a religious order or marriage? Is it serious to break a vow? What if you change and no longer believe the church's doctrine? Do you keep your vows no matter what?

3. Jesus, who is the one the Christians center their religion around, said in a book of the Christian's New Testament (Matthew 5:34): to swear no vows. Why do you think the Christian religious orders swear vows? Is this a paradox? Do you think vows are necessary to keep someone in the religious order? If someone doesn't want to be there, why would a vow keep them? Discuss these questions/ideas thoroughly.

(see the answer keys)

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