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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 an "oro"?

2. What is the phrase Wole uses to describe the odor in Essay's room?

3. Why is Wole mad at his Sunday School teacher at the beginning of Chapter 5?

4. What is an "abiku?"

5. In Chapter 1, how is Uncle Sanya cured of his spirit possession?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Wole's gradual process of discovering the town around the compound at the beginning of Chapter 3.

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

3. What is unusual about Bukola? What does Wole think about her behavior?

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

5. Describe what happens at the end of Chapter 6, when Wild Christian catches Wole raiding the pantry?

6. Describe Chapter 1's account of who Essay is.

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

8. Describe the incident in which Paa Adatan confronts Bote troops.

9. Describe three things Wole sees during his journey through Ake in Chapter 3.

10. How does Wole describe the difference in odors between Essay's room and Wild Christian's room?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Wole's family structure. Is it tight-knit and nuclear, or more loose-knit and extended? How is Wole influenced by his father? His mother? Where is the line drawn between family and stranger?

Essay Topic 2

Particular attention is paid to certain "coming of age" moments, such as when Wole's Jonah rock loses its power, or when his baby sister dies. Reflect on those two events. What is learned by Wole? What is lost to him after these moments? What has he gained?

Essay Topic 3

At certain points--as when Wole attends school before he is of age--Wole seems eager to mature, and at other times--such as when he is deemed too old to sleep in Essay's room--Wole seems to stubbornly refuse to embrace growth. How does Wole view his own maturation? Is maturing something to be feared, or looked forward to? Is Wole's maturation a smooth progression, or does it proceed with stops and starts?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,100 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample