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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. With what was Philomene afraid Narcisse would interfere?

2. What does Garasime say is attached to the slaves after the assessors come?

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

4. What does Elisabeth know about Suzette and Nicholas in Chapter 2?

5. What is returned to Tessier that keeps him from selling Clement to Narcisse?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. With whom is Suzette enamored, but what is her mother's response to that?

4. What does Philomene say about her own light skin?

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

6. What present is mentioned in Chapter 13 that Clement is making for Philomene?

7. Of what is Philomene aware concerning her emerging womanhood?

8. Why does Francoise chastise Elisabeth in Chapter 1?

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

10. What does Oreline say upon learning of Suzette's pregnancy, and what is Suzette's response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

Do you think most people want a happy ending in a novel? Do you think Cane River would qualify as a novel with a happy ending? Why or why not? What do you think are three reasons to read fiction and do you think Cane River fulfills these three reasons? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Suzette at one point says that the only thing she got from Eugene was light-skinned children, and she sees this as a step toward a better life for her descendents than what she could otherwise give them.

Discuss the ways in which the system of slavery causes slaves to value lighter skin, especially in view of the fact that their oppressors are Caucasian. Use examples from Cane River to support your response.

Essay Topic 3

When Eugene rapes Suzette, she is a virgin. After he is finished, she realizes that her dress is bloodied. Suzette does not rush to the comforting arms of her mother to tell what's happened, but rushes to find a way to hide the evidence of the rape.

Discuss the consequences of slave owners raping their slaves and how such relationships affected both the slave and the owner. Use examples from Cane River to support your response.

(see the answer keys)

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