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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 the worst time of the year for Esi?

2. What is one thing Esi's father asks Ali?

3. Why would Esi's mother have thought it alright for Oko to take another wife?

4. What does Esi not want to remember?

5. From where did Ali receive an urgent message?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Esi go after dropping Ali off in her new car and what does she offer Opokuya?

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

3. Who arrives at Esi's house while Ali is still there and what happens?

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

5. Describe Esi's conversation with Opokuya three months after ending her marriage with Ali.

6. What does Ali decide to do to assuage his guilt, but how does that only increase his guilt and Esi's shame?

7. What happens after the trip to Bamako?

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

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

10. Describe Kubi and Oko's interaction.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss Changes: A Love Story based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Changes: A Love Story is a successful novel. Explain your rationale with specific examples.

3. Do you think the fact that Changes: A Love Story is a feminist novel with a specific agenda changes the criteria upon which its success should be judged? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Over the past several hundred years, many emigrants have moved to the United States seeking relief from oppressive governments or oppressive cultural mores. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think Esi or few females from Ghana move away (besides economics).

2. Discuss some of the things that would drive you to leave your home country to move to a new country and different culture.

3. If there is nothing that would make you leave your home country, discuss what about your country makes you want to live there for your entire life.

4. If you lived in a strongly patriarchal country, would you want to move to a different country? Discuss in relation to Changes: A Love Story.

(see the answer keys)

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