Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. In the Epilogue, what reason does Ruth admit for acting dumb?
2. What family scene does Ruth think would have made a good painting?
3. How many children does Clara end up having?
4. What key item did Iris leave behind at the ball?
5. What does the title of Chapter 4, "The Gallery of God's Mistakes," refer to?
Short Essay Questions
1. Why is Margarethe in such shock when Ruth speaks the word "Ashgirl" when referring to Clara?
2. In the Epilogue, what does Ruth surmise happened to the greedy van Stolk?
3. In the Epilogue, what does Ruth say about the paintings of Iris's that she admires?
4. What happens in the dream Iris has the night of the ball?
5. In the Epilogue, what reason does Ruth give for burning the painting?
6. What skill does Clara and Iris count on Caspar using when he goes in search of a dress for Iris for the big ball?
7. What message is the Master trying to convey when he asks, after showing Margarethe his paintings of hideous people, what she knows about charitable stories from the Bible?
8. What kind of perspective can Ruth offer about what happens to her family?
9. What does Iris worry will happen to Clara if they are forced to leave the beautiful van den Meer home?
10. What exactly does Margarethe believe happens to her eyes after she has seen the Master's horrible paintings?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Several different characters in the novel operate under different moral codes. Margarethe, for example, becomes increasingly religious but Iris feels that she does not follow the moral code of her religion. In contrast, Iris does not follow a religion as closely as her mother does, but it could be argued that she lives a more moral life. Choose once character in the novel and examine that character's moral code, what the basis of that moral code is, and whether or not the choices the character makes indicate whether he or she is a moral person. Make sure to use specific examples from the story to support your argument.
Essay Topic 2
Many things are in juxtaposition in the text. Pick three characters, themes, settings, or other examples of juxtapositioning and explain how Maguire sets up the juxtaposition, the role the juxtaposition plays within the story, and what message Maguire is trying to send through each contrast.
Essay Topic 3
Conventional wisdom dictates that children often end up like one of their parents. Using either Margarethe and Iris OR Henrika and Clara, compare and contrast how each girl grows up to be like and unlike her mother. Make sure to list at least three similarities and three differences, using evidence from the text to support your claims.
This section contains 854 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |