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. In regards to time, how should the play be performed?

2. The author states that this story illustrates a ____________________ between two cultures.

3. How does Amusa give his report to Officer Pilkings?

4. How many years has Olunde been in school thus far, as stated within the conversation in Act 1, Scene 2?

5. What do the women of the market threaten to remove from Amusa if he refuses to leave?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are Pilkings and Elesin alike?

2. What are Olunde's intentions for attending medical school?

3. Why does Amusa fail in arresting Elesin?

4. What is the difference in music and dance in both societies? How can it be seen in the play?

5. Which agenda seems the most important to Pilkings in Act 1, Scene 2?

6. How does Olunde react when he finally sees his father, alive?

7. Whom does Elesin initially blame for his failure to transition? Why?

8. What is the background story of Wole Soyinka?

9. What is the "real" theme of the play, as stated by Soyinka in the author's note?

10. Why does Olunde decide to take his father's place as the messenger and end his life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the idea of cultural relativism play an important role in understanding and interpreting the play?

Essay Topic 2

Fear plays a large part in the motivation of the actions of several people within the play. How does fear motivate the actions of characters within the play? Which characters are motivated by fear?

Essay Topic 3

What does morality have to do with the decision making process of Pilkings? Explain your reasoning using in-text citations.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 707 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample