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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. Who claims that Makak, unlike white men, is not helpless in the face of illness?

2. What does Makak call Moustique when Moustique gets in his way?

3. What language does Makak use to respond to the Corporal?

4. What race is the Corporal?

5. Who tells Makak to continue his story after Makak falls to his knees?

Short Essay Questions

1. Do you think Walcott's use of imagery is effective in the closing scenes of the play? Why or why not?

2. What role does music play in the Prologue?

3. What is Makak's reaction to Moustique's death?

4. What is symbolized by Makak chopping off the head of the Woman in White?

5. Do you think the journey to Africa is literal or symbolical? Why?

6. What does Makak's escape from prison symbolize?

7. Describe the events leading up to Moustique's death.

8. What is Makak's personal truth, revealed at the end of the play?

9. Do you think Makak's journey to know himself is an allegory for Christ's journey to be with God? Why or why not?

10. What does the character of Basil symbolize?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is racism explored and conveyed in Walcott's work? Why do you think Walcott wrote about it in this way?

Essay Topic 2

Identify at least three instances of foreshadowing in Walcott's play. Why would Walcott include these instances? How would the story change if they had not been included?

Essay Topic 3

How is the Corporal described in the initial portion of the play? Do you think this is a fair description of the Corporal's character? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 636 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample