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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. Where to Henry and Rowena chat?

2. Where is Polly playing with her friends?

3. What do Eunice and Agatha try to do while Polly and them are having tea?

4. What happens when Henry arrives?

5. What does Polly realize about her situation?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Polly starts complaining to her mother the next morning about the burned toast?

2. What does Polly overhear at Stew Meat's store and what does she decide to do?

3. What does Rowena do with her card and what does she notice on her calendar?

4. How does Polly react to Leland's shout scaring the frog and what do the twins do?

5. What does Polly resolve to do concerning Agatha and Eunice, and how is her first attempt disastrous?

6. For whom is this book written and what is it about?

7. What do Agatha and Eunice try to do at tea the next day and how does Polly respond?

8. What does Polly talk about at tea, and what do Eunice and Agatha talk about?

9. About what does Polly begin to worry and what does she decide to do?

10. What does Rowena hear in the woods and what does she find?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of The Wish Maker, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in The Wish Maker. (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

An element common to all three stories continues to manifest. This is the idea that in each story, characters with negative attributes are clearly and vividly contrasted with characters who have opposite, more positive attributes.

1. Who is the positive character(s) who are contrasted to Polly's character? Discuss how they contrast and what Polly might be able to learn from that character(s).

2. Who is the positive character(s) who are contrasted to Rowena's character? Discuss how they contrast and what Polly might be able to learn from that character(s).

3. Who is the positive character(s) who are contrasted to Adam's character? Discuss how they contrast and what Polly might be able to learn from that character(s).

Essay Topic 3

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 Bill Brittain.

2. What in Brittain's background may have helped him in writing "The Wish Maker"? 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.

(see the answer keys)

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