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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 Bet come into the store one day to talk to Emily?

2. Why doesn't Narcisse join the regular army?

3. What causes Clement to drown?

4. Who owns Billes General Store?

5. With what mentality does Emily think the older women in her family live?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Ferrier's caregivers know he is close to dying of yellow fever in Chapter 17?

2. Describe Elisabeth's encounter with a census taker.

3. What is an example of how the traditional roles on Oreline's farm become skewed?

4. In Chapter 25, what does Yellow John say about Clement's fate?

5. What does Narcisse start building in Chapter 19?

6. In Chapter 19, what does Elisabeth say about Philomene's visions, and how does Philomene plan to use them on Narcisse?

7. What do the Union armies start doing, and what is Philomene's response?

8. What is Philomene's vision when she is ill in Chapter 18?

9. What does Emily do in Chapter 31 that seems to indicate her relationship with Joseph is serious?

10. Why does Narcisse begin to hoard money and food?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

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 says that she knows any one of them - or all of them - could be sold at the whim of their owners. It's around this time that Suzette realizes that the childhood days of companionship with the white children are gone.

What are the reasons Suzette will not be able to play with the white children any longer and how does that impact her life? Use examples from Cane River to support your response.

(see the answer keys)

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