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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 does Joseph ask Philomene to give him?

2. What happens to Elisabeth in Chapter 34?

3. Who does Joseph think has cheated him?

4. Why is Narcisse better off than some plantation owners?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 27, what does Narcisse say Emily is to do concerning her education?

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

3. In Chapter 31, what does narration say about Joseph's life so far?

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

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

6. What is the argument between Oreline and Philomene about who owes whom in Chapter 24?

7. What does Angelite say about a young man who is interested in marrying her?

8. Why does Philomene send Bet to Joseph's store where Emily is working?

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

10. What does Philomene name her daughter by Narcisse, and what does she say about the daughter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

Define plot and include the definitions of the most important elements of a plot. Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not? Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Cane River, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot? Give a brief synopsis of any important sub-plots.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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