View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the significance of the dinner for Emily and her guest?

2. What does Philomene realize as she see Clement in Chapter 16?

3. How old is Elisabeth when the census is being taken?

4. With what mentality does Emily think the older women in her family live?

5. Of what does Narcisse say Emily will not be forgiven?

Short Essay Questions

1. To whom is Gerant married, and what is his stipulation about working with the family?

2. Who becomes ill in Chapter 18, and who takes care of them?

3. What does Narcisse say he worries about concerning Emily?

4. What do the Union armies start doing, and what is Philomene's response?

5. In Chapter 27, what does Narcisse say Emily is to do concerning her education?

6. What does Emily do in Chapter 31 that seems to indicate her relationship with Joseph is serious?

7. What does Philomene think one day in Chapter 16 when she sees Clement holding one of their daughters?

8. Why does Narcisse begin to hoard money and food?

9. What does Narcisse tell Oreline has to be done after Ferrier's death concerning the slaves and what does she decide about Clement?

10. How do Ferrier's caregivers know he is close to dying of yellow fever in Chapter 17?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Often, authors will write about what they know, and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Lalita Tademy. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Tademy's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Tademy's probable agenda concerning that idea.

Essay Topic 2

Eugene seems to have had good intentions with regard to his children. It seems that he'd really intended that he would buy their freedom but that he'd never set a date for making it happen and had eventually just let the years slip past him.

Discuss Eugene’s character flaws and strengths in relation to his children and his raping of their mother. Use examples from Cane River to support your response.

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than an action-driven plot, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

What do you think it means to say that a plot is character-driven or action-driven? Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why? Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character are developed to the same degree? Why or why not? What type of plot do you think Cane River is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 821 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample