The House of the Spirits Study Guide

1. In what country does the novel's action take place?

• Argentina
• Venezuela
• Peru
• Chile

2. How did The House of the Spirits begin?

• As Allende's letter to her dying grandfather
• As an assignment for a Chilean film documentary
• As Allende's tribute to her beloved late daughter, Paula
• As Allende's therapy after her divorce from Miguel Frias

3. In what language was the novel originally written and published?

• Esperanto
• English
• Spanish
• Portuguese

4. On whom did Allende base the characters of Clara and Esteban Trueba?

• Her grandparents
• Her daughter, Paula, and her son, Nícolas
• Her aunt and uncle, the latter a President of the Republic
• Herself and her husband

5. To what actual historical figure does the Candidate correspond?

• Pedro de Valdivia
• Salvador Allende Gossens
• General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte
• Miguel Frias

6. With which character's words does the novel begin?

• Clara's
• Blanca's
• Esteban's
• Pedro Tercero García's

7. What does Father Restrepo declare about young Clara?

• That she is possessed by the devil
• That she is clairvoyant
• That she will die by accident
• That her mermaid-like looks are a source of sin

8. What is special about Rosa's appearance?

• She has green hair and luminescent eyes and skin
• She has a mole in the shape of a cross
• She is androgynous
• She looks exactly like her mother, Nívea, did at her age

9. How does Clara acquire Barrabas?

• He arrives among her deceased Uncle Marcos's belongings
• Rosa buys him as a gift for her at the market
• He floats in from the sea on a raft
• Severo's political supporters deliver him to their doorstep

10. Why was Rosa's hand in marriage uncontested?

• No man wanted the responsibility of being married to someone so gorgeous
• She was rumored to be cursed
• Due to her extremely sour personality
• Her appearance made her seem ill and unattractive