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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 is Opokuya thinking of doing before going to the hospital early the next morning?

2. What does Esi say about monogamy?

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

4. What does Esi do when she hears Ogyaanowa cry?

5. In what shape does Kubi find Oko?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Esi find out about Ali's secretary and what does she decide to do?

3. What does Esi's father ask Ali concerning his intentions to marry Esi, and what is Ali's response?

4. What do the older women think about Ali marrying Esi?

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

6. What happens after the trip to Bamako?

7. What does Ali buy Esi and what is her reaction?

8. What does Esi feel after leaving Opokuya's home?

9. How is Esi feeling after a year of marriage to Ali?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in Changes: A Love Story. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of individual freedom in Changes: A Love Story. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess individual freedom? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of tradition in Changes: A Love Story. What is Esi's view of tradition? Ali's? Oko's? Esi's family? Opokuya? Why is tradition important to some characters? Is anyone willing to abandon traditional viewpoints? Who? What are the positive and negative sides to holding fast to tradition?

Essay Topic 2

Changes: A Love Story ends on an unhappy or seemingly depressed tone. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Changes: A Love Story and whether or not Changes: A Love Story fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Changes: A Love Story is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

4. Would you have wished the ending to be more positive? Why or why not? Would that have changed what the author wished to convey with the book?

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a novel is more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Changes: A Love Story is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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