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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. Why don't the parents of the baby in "Do Not Go Gentle" name their son at the beginning of the story?

2. What does Corliss learn about Harlan Atwater from his interview in Radical Seattle Weekly?

3. According to the librarian, how many other people have checked out Harlan Atwater's book before Corliss?

4. Which of the following statements does not describe how the woman in "Can I Get a Witness?" feels about the people who died on September 11th?

5. In "Can I Get a Witness?", what kind of work does the woman do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of the last line of "Lawyer's League" in which Richard says, "Do you understand I have a limited range of motion"?

2. Discuss the touches of humor in "Can I Get a Witness?"

3. What is the significance of Harlan Atwater not giving his real name to Corliss?

4. How does Corliss think white people feel about Indians?

5. Who is Mr. Grief in "Do Not Go Gentle"?

6. How does Richard in "Lawyer's League" describe himself?

7. Why don't the parents in "Do Not Go Gentle" name their baby at the beginning of the story?

8. What does the opening scene of "The Search Engine" in which Corliss watches the young couple in the student union cafe foreshadow?

9. What does Richard think most Native American politicians are like?

10. Why do you think Chocolate Thunder appeals to the father in "Do Not Go Gentle"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jackson in "What You Pawn I Will Redeem," Estelle in "The Life and Times of Estelle Walks Above," Corliss in "The Search Engine," Richard in "Lawyer's League," and William in "Flight Patterns" are all Indian characters but they are diverse in their educational, financial, social, and professional statuses. Select any three of these characters and discuss the differences among them. What do you think Sherman Alexie is trying to say about Indians in creating such varied characters to depict Indian life in America? Cite examples from the text to support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

"The Life and Times of Estelle Walks Above" contains many numbered lists, notices of historical revision, and questions and answers marked Q and A. What do you think this unusual method of structure indicates about the character of the male narrator and what do you think Sherman Alexie is trying to convey in this unique format? Cite examples from the text to support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast any three of the following male characters from the short stories in Ten Little Indians: Harlan Atwater, Richard, the unnamed man in "Can I Get a Witness," the father in "Do Not Go Gentle," William, David, Jackson and Frank Snake Church. Include a discussion of how they are each assimilated into mainstream American culture and how they are affected by Native American culture. Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

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