Nona the Ninth Quiz: 20 Questions on Plot, Characters, and Themes
How the Quiz Works
This quiz spans the full arc of Nona the Ninth — from Nona's first days in the city to the journey through the River and the confrontation in the Tomb. Questions are grouped into four sections: plot and sequence, character motivation, theme and symbol, and synthesis. Multiple-choice questions have one correct answer; short-answer questions expect a specific fact or a concise explanation. The complete answer key follows all twenty questions.
Plot & Sequence
1. What was Nona's first spoken word, which led to her name?
-
A)
Yes -
B)
No -
C)
Nine -
D)
Stop
2. What is the blue sphere that hangs over the city called?
-
A)
Ulysses -
B)
Titania -
C)
Varun -
D)
Alecto
3. What happens when Camilla and Palamedes merge?
-
A)
They die together -
B)
They become Paul -
C)
They swap bodies -
D)
They separate permanently
4. Who is the corpse found in the warded bedroom?
-
A)
Harrowhark -
B)
Judith Deuteros -
C)
Gideon Nav -
D)
Pyrrha
5. What does Nona do with Crown's sword during the truck ride?
-
A)
She returns it to Crown -
B)
She cuts it from its scabbard and climbs onto the truck roof -
C)
She throws it away -
D)
She gives it to Pyrrha
6. (Short answer) What is the outcome of the duel between Camilla and Ianthe?
7. (Short answer) What happens to the Captain when Varun the Eater arrives?
8. What does Nona do when she reaches the Tomb?
-
A)
She opens the door -
B)
She walks into the water toward the Body and falls onto its chest -
C)
She kills Ianthe -
D)
She runs away
Character Motivation
9. Why does Palamedes refuse Pyrrha's offer to flee to a moon?
-
A)
He doesn't trust Pyrrha -
B)
He refuses to abandon the city's people -
C)
He wants to stay for the birthday party -
D)
He is afraid of the moon
10. (Short answer) Why does Camilla intervene when a stranger touches Nona's hip?
11. Why does Hot Sauce press Honesty to confess about the Convoy?
-
A)
Because he stole from her -
B)
Because his odd-job crew attempted to rob a cargo convoy -
C)
Because he lied about his eye -
D)
Because he betrayed the gang
12. (Short answer) Why does Pyrrha go to the park despite the danger?
13. Why does Camilla refuse to let Nona go to the beach?
-
A)
Because of violence in the city -
B)
Because she doesn't like the beach -
C)
Because Pyrrha said no -
D)
Because Nona has school
Theme & Symbol
14. (Short answer) What does the blue sphere symbolize for Nona?
15. What does the handkerchief symbolize in the duel between Camilla and Ianthe?
-
A)
A token of friendship -
B)
The prize of the duel -
C)
A surrender flag -
D)
A wedding gift
16. What does Nona's ability to speak any language represent?
-
A)
Her necromantic power -
B)
Language as connection and her identity ambiguity -
C)
Her education -
D)
Her memory loss
17. (Short answer) What does the pull-up bar metaphor represent?
Synthesis
18. (Short answer) How does Nona's identity relate to the theme of body versus soul?
19. (Short answer) What does the merging of Camilla and Palamedes into Paul suggest about the cost of necromancy?
20. (Short answer) How does the book use the motif of the girl with the painted face?
Answer Key
1. B) No — Nona's first words were No, no, which became Nona, meaning Nine.
2. C) Varun — Nona addresses the blue sphere as Varun and is the only one who can hear it sing.
3. B) They become Paul — Camilla bursts into flames and burns completely; a new, unharmed figure emerges, merged from both Camilla and Palamedes.
4. C) Gideon Nav — Nona finds the corpse of Gideon Nav in the warded bedroom and kisses it; the corpse briefly opens its eyes.
5. B) She cuts it from its scabbard and climbs onto the truck roof — Nona takes Crown's sword, cuts it free from its scabbard, and climbs onto the truck roof to see the Heralds falling.
6. Camilla is stabbed through the belly but declares the match to the Sixth, and Ianthe falls. — Camilla invokes the old challenge of the Third; Corona threatens suicide to force Ianthe to accept. Camilla is wounded but declares victory.
7. The Captain begins trembling violently, is possessed, and speaks through Nona. — The Captain's body withers as she speaks through Nona, demanding Nona pursue someone.
8. B) She walks into the water toward the Body and falls onto its chest — Nona moves the baby's body into the water, recognizes Anastasia's remains, and falls onto the Body's chest.
9. B) He refuses to abandon the city's people — Palamedes insists on staying despite Pyrrha's warning of an impending purge.
10. To protect Nona from unwanted advances and enforce bodily autonomy. — Camilla warns Nona to move away and get one of them if anyone touches her again.
11. B) Because his odd-job crew attempted to rob a cargo convoy — Honesty's crew tried to rob the Convoy; a crewmate saw eyeless people staring at him.
12. She went to investigate the burn cages. — Pyrrha admits she went to the park and warns Nona about Hot Sauce being there with dangerous company.
13. A) Because of violence in the city — Camilla refuses both the beach and school because of safety concerns.
14. It's something she loves that others fear; she alone can hear it sing. — The blue sphere represents Nona's unique connection to the cosmic threat that terrifies everyone else.
15. B) The prize of the duel — Ianthe agrees to the duel with a handkerchief as the prize.
16. B) Language as connection and her identity ambiguity — Nona can speak any language by mimicking lip movements, which confounds Palamedes and reflects her mysterious identity.
17. The contrast between Nona's willingness to let go and Camilla's refusal to let go. — Nona loves the feeling of letting go of the pull-up bars; Camilla says I don't let go. It's my one thing.
18. Nona believes her body belongs to one of two people; her amber eyes suggest a soul may be inside her. — Palamedes explains that eye color shows when a soul inhabits another body, and Nona's amber eyes could mean she is like Camilla and Palamedes, or something else.
19. It requires death and transformation — Camilla bursts into flames and burns completely before Paul emerges. — The merging suggests that true union comes at the cost of individual identity, and that death can also die.
20. Nona has recurring dreams of holding a girl with a painted face underwater. — The motif connects to her identity and culminates in the revelation of Kiriona Gaia as the girl from her dreams.
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