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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 does Clement throw a chair out of the boat?

2. Who does Madame Derbanne chastise at the beginning of the book?

3. What is Elisabeth's job at the plantation?

4. Following Francoise’s death, who does Doralise promise to try to help?

5. What does Eugene do with some property he and Doralise shared?

Short Essay Questions

1. What remark does Suzette make concerning Doralise's relationship with Eugene?

2. What does Joseph Ferrier agree to do after Suzette talks to Oreline in Chapter 14?

3. What does Suzette say about her relationship to Eugene?

4. What does Narcisse ask Tessier concerning Clement?

5. Why does Suzette steal some eggs and take them to Palmire?

6. What does the overseer announce to Francoise one day?

7. How does Elisabeth treat Suzette after Suzette gives birth to Gerant?

8. What does Suzette pretend regarding Francoise, but what are Suzette's real feelings?

9. How does Philomene feel about Narcisse's marriage?

10. What does Suzette ask Doralise concerning Gerant, and what is Doralise's reply?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Suzette says that there's nothing a black woman can do except capitulate and will eventually come to compare her forced sexual encounters with Eugene with cleaning the outhouse - a horrible task that has to be completed in order to move on to the next task.

Discuss the problems the children of black slaves and white owners face that might be different from a black slave born of two slaves. Use examples from Cane River to support your response.

Essay Topic 2

Narcisse tells Philomene that she needs "a man who could protect her." Philomene is unimpressed with the argument, saying that the only thing she actually needs protection from is slavery and that Narcisse isn't going to do that.

What are some of the ways in which Narcisse does protect Philomene, and why do you think he never freed her? Use examples from Cane River to support your response.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

Identify the protagonists of the story and why you believe they are such. Identify the antagonists of the story and why you believe they are such. Which three secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot? Which, if any, characters are not essential to the story? Explain.

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This section contains 664 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample