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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 Elesin doing when he realizes that his last day is almost over?

2. In what way is Amusa related to Elesin?

3. What does Joseph hear in Act 1, Scene 2 that confuses him?

4. The praise singer can be seen as a symbol of ________________.

5. Which of the following is NOT included in things that Elesin loves, as described in the first scene of the play?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Elesin kill himself?

2. What is the background story of Wole Soyinka?

3. What is Elesin doing when Amusa comes to arrest him?

4. What is it that moves Pilkings out to stop Elesin's death ritual?

5. Why does Olunde return to the Yoruba people in Act 1, Scene 4?

6. How does Elesin react to Olunde's death?

7. How do the Yoruban people maintain their link to the king?

8. Explain what happens when Elesin emerges from the bridal tent.

9. How does Olunde react when he sees Jane in the ancestral mask?

10. Why is it ironic that Jane cares so much about Elesin's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Soyinka clearly had many purposes for introducing this play to the world. This can especially be seen within the author's note. Given the author's note, what do you believe were Soyinka's intentions for introducing this story to Western society?

Essay Topic 2

What does anti-colonialism have to do with the driving forces of the play? How do Soyinka's own feelings of anti-colonialism come to the surface with his writing of "Death and the King's horseman"?

Essay Topic 3

How does Elesin explain his failure to complete his transition? How do God and intervention relate to one another in this respect?

(see the answer keys)

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