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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. Wangeci's monologue from the excerpt of Ngaahika Ndeenda in the text describes the Olengurueni women who were exiled to where?

2. Who wrote the book African Language Literatures that is referred to in Chapter 1, Part VII?

3. In Chapter 1, Part IV, the author states that "Language, any language, has a dual character: it is both a means of communication and" what (13)?

4. What does the word "Maitũ" translate to in English?

5. How far is Kamĩrĩĩthũ from Nairobi?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the Ituĩka ceremony. What was its purpose and how often did it take place?

2. What significant event in 1884 determined the fate of the future of Africa?

3. What led the author to his choice of language in writing Ngaahika Ndeenda?

4. What are the two main strands of the petty-bourgeoisie in Africa that the author describes in Chapter 1, Part VI?

5. Who is David Diop and what was his perspective on language?

6. What are the three aspects of language as means of communication?

7. What are the three aspects of language as culture?

8. What role did song and dance have in the original production of Ngaahika Ndeenda?

9. What is the basic plot of Ngaahika Ndeenda?

10. How does the author describe the significance of land in Kenya?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author's metaphor of the seven blind men and the elephant. What aspect of literature is demonstrated through this metaphor? What other examples does the author give to make his point? How does this story relate to the concepts of class and philosophical bases?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss how the printing press and the introduction of colleges and universities in Africa stood as opposing forces for African literature. When was the printing press introduced to Africa and by whom? Who controlled the publication of literature? How did colleges and universities stand as obstacles to African novelists?

Essay Topic 3

What was the Berlin Conference of 1884? What world powers attended this conference? What was the goal of the conference? What outcomes came from the conference?

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