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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. What does Lola Bourne do with her letter to Set?

2. What does Set have to learn to converse with Lela?

3. What did the Kiowa call the rent they charged for use of Indian land?

4. The plains are a perfect equation of what two elements?

5. What ceremony does Grey perform in the Kiowa way?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the lines on the red earth represent?

2. In his old age, what is the last thing that the shield maker dreams? Why is this dream of his significant?

3. Why is it important to Dr. Terriman and Lola Bourne that Set dances?

4. What is the Kaitsenko Society?

5. Who is the boy that Set sees and hears in the garden of his old house?

6. Who becomes the maker of shields?

7. What characteristic does Grey say is shared by her mother and her sister and her niece?

8. What is the vision that Set hopes to see?

9. Why did the native people move south into the great plains?

10. Why does each man of the Plains Indians look upon Tsoai first thing each morning?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Every author has a philosophical basis as well as a cultural one for the stories that he chooses to tell. Based on this story, examine what you think are Momaday's deeply-held beliefs about what is important in life. Justify your opinion with quotations and examples from the story.

Essay Topic 2

Momaday is a poet as well as a novelist, and many of the passages in this story are poetic. What makes poetry? Select three or four passages that you believe show characteristics of poetry and tell why you think so in each case.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the differences in communication styles between Native Americans as viewed in this story and members of the mainstream culture. Find examples in the story to demonstrate cultural differences in communication.

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