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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 Rocky wish for when he and Tayo throw money off the bridge in San Diego?

2. In May where does Tayo tell his family he is going to go?

3. What is carved on Ts’eh’s silver buckles on her moccasins?

4. Why are some of the cattles’ necks scraped?

5. What is playing on the juke box at the Y bar when Tayo and the others enter the bar?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Rocky end up dead?

2. What does Betonie tell Tayo about why Tayo saw Indian faces in the Japanese?

3. What does Tayo first do when he leaves Betonie?

4. What happens with Tayo when he first gets back home and where does he stay?

5. What happens when Tayo is knocked unconscious and then wakes?

6. How do Josiah and the boys learn about cattle care?

7. What do Tayo’s friends do when they come again and what does he do first?

8. What does Tayo remember about Josiah and Night Swan?

9. Where does Robert take Tayo at Ku'oosh’s suggestion and how does Tayo feel when he gets there? How does Tayo’s feelings change?

10. Who are the family members who are kind to Tayo?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Betonie tells Tayo that saying that the white people are to blame is too simple, but change has occurred and Tayo must learn to adapt to it.

Discuss, in depth, the reasons you think Tayo might blame white people for his problems. Use examples from Ceremony to support your response.

Essay Topic 2

There is a contrast drawn between Native American spirituality and Christianity, and Christianity doesn't come off very well. Auntie is the only character in the story who represents the white man's religion, and her whole existence is focused on the reputation of the family.

Discuss the reasons the above statement may or may not be valid using illustrations from Auntie’s behavior that is derived from her religion and examples of the medicine man’s behavior that is derived from his spiritual beliefs.

Essay Topic 3

Tayo's friends are bewitched and dangerous. He must separate himself from them, and his attempts to do so almost get him killed. They cannot deal with his increasing understanding, so they must kill him.

Discuss why Tayo’s friends are threatened by Tayo’s continual walk towards mental health and why his change might make them feel threatened. Use examples from Ceremony to support your response.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 986 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample