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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. After Margarethe's confession of her crime, where does Clara go?

2. Who does Ruth suspect of kidnapping Clara as a child?

3. How do Margarethe, Ruth, and Iris plan on getting dresses for the ball?

4. What does the title of Chapter 4, "The Gallery of God's Mistakes," refer to?

5. What kind of head piece will Clara wear to the ball to disguise herself?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the Epilogue, what reason does Ruth give for burning the painting?

2. What does Ruth have to say about beauty in the Epilogue?

3. What does Margarethe's decreasing vision symbolize?

4. What does the trail of blood that follows Clara after the ball indicate?

5. What kind of perspective can Ruth offer about what happens to her family?

6. While at the ball, what do Iris and the Master decide is more permanent than beauty?

7. Who is Caspar referring to when he initially tells Iris that she hopes she will not marry "the wrong man"?

8. What reasoning does Clara use in explaining to Iris why her beauty is actually a curse?

9. During their argument at the ball, how do Iris and the Master call a truce during their argument?

10. How does the Master respond to Clara's vote of confidence at the ball, when she says that she is sure his painting will be picked by the queen?

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

Perhaps the most unique aspect of Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is the new point-of-view it provides on a classic fairy tale. Discuss 1) the role that point-of-view provides in a text, 2) what literary tools an author can use to manipulate a traditional point-of-view, and 3) what impact a new or unusual point-of-view can have on the reader. Make sure to cite specific examples and passages from Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Iris, Ruth, and Clara all have very complicated childhoods. Examine what makes each child's experience growing up so complicated, what each girl had control of growing up, and what, if anything, could have been changed to make each of their childhoods more enjoyable for them.

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