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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 Iza think is a usually a problem for women delivering babies?

2. How does Brun secretly feel about the news of Iza's baby's gender?

3. Why does Ayla go out alone?

4. How does Ayla survive the attack after the sling misses it's mark?

5. How do the clan members differ from the girl?

Short Essay Questions

1. What leads the clan to find the girl?

2. What things does Creb consider when selecting a totem for a child?

3. Why does Broud become sexually interested in Ayla?

4. Why is Iza so happy about the news that she may stay at the Mog-ur's hearth?

5. What does Iza fear will happen after she dies?

6. Why does Broud have Ayla cursed?

7. Why was Creb allowed to live after his difficult birth?

8. Why is the clan traveling?

9. What did Ayla realize when she kills the porcupine?

10. What besides grief makes Ayla suffer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Men and women have very clearly defined roles in The Clan of the Cave Bear. Write an essay exploring the women's place in the clan's society

Part 1) What is the women's place in the clan's society? How do the women feel about their position in the clan? Use examples from the text.

Part 2) How does the relationship between Iza and her siblings Creb and Brun demonstrate women's place in the clan? Does she get special privileges for being medicine woman? Does she get special privileges for being the leader's sibling? Does she get special privileges for being the Mog-ur's sibling?

Part 3) Does Ayla's behavior influence the other women of the clan? Use examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

The Clan lacks the capacity to foresee consequences. If Brun could have perfect information about the future of the strange child he decides to let Iza adopt, what might he do differently? Write an essay describing how he might handle (1) her lack of submission to Broud, (2) her desire to hunt, and (3) her ability to learn healing from Iza. What might he do to prepare himself and the clan for these differences? If he decided to abandon her because she was too different, would the clan suffer from losing her? What do they gain by having her as part of the clan?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about three traditions or beliefs of the clan (e.g., bringing animals back to the cave, touching a weapon, non-acceptance of deformed babies, etc.). What purpose do these traditions or beliefs serve in the framework of the clan's culture? How does Ayla have difficulty conforming to these traditions or beliefs?

(see the answer keys)

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