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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 is the name of Wole's baby sister in Chapter 7?

2. What is Wole's problem at the beginning of Chapter 4?

3. What is an "abiku?"

4. After Paa Adatan's conflict with troops in Chapter 8, which term best describes his emotional state?

5. Upon returning to Ake at the end of Chapter 3, what is the first thing Wole says?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the general features of the compound in which Wole lives mentioned in Chapter 1.

2. What trouble does You-Mean-Mayself cause the household? How is he finally removed from the house?

3. What is the nature of the philosophical debate Wole has with Essay in Chapter 4?

4. Describe the family's reaction when Wole returns home from his journey through Ake in Chapter 3.

5. Describe the incident in which Wole is hurt by a scythe at the end of Chapter 2.

6. Describe the death of Wole's baby sister in Chapter 7. How does Wole react to the death?

7. What bad habit does Wole admit to in Chapter 4, and how is he cured of it?

8. Describe the "see-saw" accident that Wole gets into with Osiki.

9. Describe the episode in which a teacher commits a sin against Essay's rose bush in Chapter 5.

10. Who is "You-Mean-Mayself"? How did he acquire that nickname?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the tone Wole Soyinka uses throughout Ake. What is his attitude toward the events of his childhood? How might tone reveal his intent in relaying his biography to readers? Use specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

British colonial rule is a rarely mentioned but important subtext of Ake. Discuss how colonial rule affects the people of Egbaland, and use examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Punishment, especially the punishment of children, is a common image in Ake. Cite three examples of punishment in the text. How is punished viewed, by both the punisher and the punished? Is it an effective deterrent to mischief?

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