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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. Where does Philomene live now?

2. What does Philomene say Emily is doing with Narcisse when Emily is 10?

3. How many children has Narcisse fathered over recent years?

4. Upon whose largesse does Philomene say her family depends?

5. What last name does Elisabeth choose?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. What does Philomene ask Narcisse to do concerning Emily?

6. In Chapter 31, what does Joseph request from Philomene concerning Emily?

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

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

9. What does Emily admit to Bet about Emily's feelings concerning Elisabeth?

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

Cane River belongs to the historical fiction genre. Discuss the following:

Define the literary term "genre" and name three other genres in addition to the historical fiction genre. What are the advantages and disadvantages of assigning a genre to a novel? What do you think is the difference between a historical fiction and a science fiction novel or a mystery?

Essay Topic 2

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.

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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