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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Where will the ball be taking place?
(a) Under the stars.
(b) Outside at the marketplace.
(c) Pilkings' house.
(d) The colonial residency.

2. Who performs the ritual sacrifices made for the Yoruban king?
(a) Chief brothers.
(b) The women of the market.
(c) Elesin Oba.
(d) New king.

3. What is the Yoruban term for a royal drum?
(a) Opele.
(b) Gbedu.
(c) Egungun.
(d) Sigidi.

4. Which word best describes Olunde's reaction to his father's death?
(a) Upset.
(b) Sad.
(c) Angry.
(d) Calm.

5. To whom does Soyinka dedicate this play?
(a) The Yoruban people.
(b) Elesin Oba.
(c) His mother.
(d) His father.

6. According to Yoruban custom, who is not supposed to travel away from Yoruban land?
(a) The eldest son.
(b) The youngest son.
(c) The king's horseman.
(d) The mother of the market.

7. For Olunde and the Yoruban people, seeing Elesin alive means that they are seeing the _____________ of the Yoruban world.
(a) Greatest miracle.
(b) King.
(c) Destroyer.
(d) Savior.

8. How much time has elapsed since Olunde received word of the king's death, as stated in Act 1, Scene 4?
(a) Three months.
(b) One month.
(c) Two months.
(d) One week.

9. Which word best describes Elesin's feelings toward Olunde's reaction to him?
(a) Pleased.
(b) Horrified.
(c) Sad.
(d) Angry.

10. Which type of bird must serve the offering once the death ritual is complete?
(a) Albatross.
(b) Pigeon.
(c) Cockerel.
(d) Not-I bird.

11. Olunde admires the self-sacrificial British soldiers of which war?
(a) The War of 1812.
(b) World War II.
(c) The Revolutionary War.
(d) World War I.

12. Pilkings believes that Elesin is upset by _____________.
(a) His own failure to transition.
(b) Olunde's reaction.
(c) His bride.
(d) Pilkings' interference.

13. According to Olunde, the English do not _______________ what they don't understand.
(a) Attempt to understand.
(b) Obey.
(c) Observe.
(d) Respect.

14. According to Elesin Oba, he is the master of what?
(a) The afterlife.
(b) His own fate.
(c) The Yoruban world.
(d) The lives of many.

15. What do the women of the market carry as they enter Elesin's cell?
(a) A coffin.
(b) Olunde.
(c) A pyre.
(d) Amusa.

Short Answer Questions

1. What type of transportation does Olunde use to travel home as discussed in Act 1, Scene 3?

2. This character is portrayed as being selfish and ignorant of others' cultures.

3. Which word best describes the Prince's reaction to Jane and Pilkings' costumes?

4. In addition to the Yoruban religion, there are several references made to this particular religion throughout the play.

5. Who is in charge of laying Elesin's shrouds?

(see the answer keys)

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