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

2. What would happen if Suzette and Nicholas marry?

3. Why does Suzette stop to check on Gerasime in Chapter 7?

4. To whom is Eugene Daurat related?

5. What does Francoise worry about concerning Oreline?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Who is Suzette's father, and what does he do?

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

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

7. What does Philomene say to Clement in Chapter 12 when he tells her he traveled by boat to visit her?

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

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

10. What do the slaves receive for Christmas?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Often, authors will write about what they know, and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Lalita Tademy. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Tademy's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Tademy's probable agenda concerning that idea.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Elisabeth urges Philomene to take what happiness she can find in life.

In what ways do the slaves find happiness in the system which controls and abuses them? Use examples from Cane River to support your response.

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