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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. How did white people come to be, according to the medicine man?

2. Under what kind of trees at the Y bar does Leroy park?

3. How does Harley get a mirror outside the Y bar?

4. What animal went to the mother of the people during a drought and asked forgiveness for the people?

5. Who bought the Ford coupe that Tayo’s friends pick him up in to go to the bar?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Tayo prefer to sleep and how does Old Grandma and Robert feel around Tayo?

2. How does Tayo free the cattle and what kind of animal does he see when he is freeing the cattle?

3. How is Tayo when the war is over?

4. Why do the two ranch hands leave Tayo alone?

5. How does a woman help Tayo find the cattle?

6. What does Betonie say when Tayo says he wants to find Josiah’s cattle?

7. What happens to Tayo after he attacks Emo?

8. What does Betonie show Tayo about his illness and how it is related to white people?

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

10. How does Rocky’s mother feel about him going off to war and what does Tayo tell her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an important part of what makes Ceremony interesting.

Thoroughly discuss and analyze Tayo. What are his strengths and weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he usually likable? Seldom likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas. Use the same criteria to thoroughly discuss and analyze Auntie and Emo.

Essay Topic 2

This writer, a Native American herself, is communicating a way her own people can adapt to the changes that have taken place and are taking place in their own world while hanging on to their own identity at the same time.

Discuss at least three ways which Silko advocates can help her people adapt to the changes in their culture while continuing to hold onto their own cultural identity. Use examples from Ceremony to support your response.

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about what they know, and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting.

Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Leslie Marmon Silko. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Silko's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Silko's probable agenda concerning that idea.

(see the answer keys)

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