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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. Of what does Narcisse say Emily will not be forgiven?

2. What happens to Elisabeth in Chapter 34?

3. What year does Narcisse decide to join the war effort?

4. What do Narcisse and Oreline wait to tell Philomene until she is better?

5. Where does Narcisse decide to send Emily for more education?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. In Chapter 23, what does Oreline ask of her husband concerning the war, and what is his response?

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

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

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

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

10. What does Philomene think one day in Chapter 16 when she sees Clement holding one of their daughters?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Eugene rapes Suzette, she is a virgin. After he is finished, she realizes that her dress is bloodied. Suzette does not rush to the comforting arms of her mother to tell what's happened, but rushes to find a way to hide the evidence of the rape.

Discuss the consequences of slave owners raping their slaves and how such relationships affected both the slave and the owner. Use examples from Cane River to support your response.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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.

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