View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Esi say her mother thinks concerning marrying Ali?

2. What shocks Ali's female relatives?

3. What does Ali continually do to Esi?

4. What does Fusena realize when Ali's female relatives visit her?

5. Why does Opokuya say Esi is brave?

Short Essay Questions

1. For what does Ali apologize to his people and how does he rationalize his actions?

2. Why would it have been different if Oko had taken a second wife?

3. What does Opokuya wonder about Fusena, Ali's first wife?

4. What insecurities and fears does it bring up for Fusena when Ali mentions that his intended second wife has a university degree?

5. How does Esi finally make a break with Ali near the end of their third year of marriage?

6. What does the conversation between Ama and Aba concern at the opening to the second part of Changes?

7. How is Ali conflicted on New Year's Eve?

8. What happens after the trip to Bamako?

9. What indication is there that Ali and Esi are starting to have difficulties in their relationship in Chapter 10?

10. What does Ali propose to Esi and what is her response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation whereby Esi is afraid she'll never marry when she is younger and now she is afraid she will be stuck in her marriage.

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use of and meaning of five symbols found in Changes: A Love Story.

3. Discuss the use of foreshadowing in literature. What is the purpose of foreshadowing? Cite 3 examples of foreshadowing and how it is used to indicate events to come in Changes: A Love Story.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels and short stories have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Changes: A Love Story, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in Changes: A Love Story. (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

Certainly Changes: A Love Story deals with the subject of gender. Discuss the following:

1. Define the term "gender."

2. Does gender only refer to whether a person is male or female? Is gender easy to identify?

3. Discuss the Ghanaian cultural definitions of gender during the time of Changes: A Love Story and the expectations for each gender. Do any of those expectations exist today?

4. Are women the only ones harmed by gender-based expectations? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,265 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample