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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. Who is Angelite's mother?

2. What is one fact that Bet reminds Emily of about Narcisse?

3. What is the white community grumbling about according to Narcisse, Antoine and Joseph Ferrier?

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

5. What does Narcisse remove from a wall in his home when he plans to marry?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Narcisse start building in Chapter 19?

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

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

4. What do Narcisse, Antoine Morat and Joseph Ferrier who come to visit Joseph tell him?

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

6. What does Narcisse tell Oreline has to be done after Ferrier's death concerning the slaves and what does she decide about Clement?

7. Who becomes ill in Chapter 18, and who takes care of them?

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

9. What does Narcisse say he worries about concerning Emily?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Emily takes a piece of advice from Bet, to stop and listen to what the older women of the family are saying in order to gain insight into their lives. It's advice that Emily will take seriously.

What do you think is the value of Emily listening to the older women about their lives? Use examples from Cane River to support your response.

Essay Topic 2

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than an action-driven plot, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

What do you think it means to say that a plot is character-driven or action-driven? Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why? Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character are developed to the same degree? Why or why not? What type of plot do you think Cane River is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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