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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 the name of the doctor from Chicago who comes to see Mauser in Chapter 4?

2. Who calls Fleur a squaw in "Figures of Captive Graces"?

3. What relative of Nanapush's came to help Under the Ground when Anaquot was sick?

4. Who trapped the animal that Anaquot's soul went into?

5. In Chapter 2, when did Placide realize she was a painter?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the making of Under the Ground?

2. In Chapter 4, why does Polly Elizabeth believe she should let Fleur go, and why does Placide want Fleur to stay?

3. Why did Fleur rush to Mauser the day he had the seizure?

4. Why does Peggy Elizabeth hire Fleur?

5. How does Fleur learn the ways of the house?

6. Why does Polly Elizabeth believe it is a shame that she and Placide are not one person?

7. How does Nanapush know Fleur's story?

8. How is Mauser waiting for Fleur when she comes to kill him?

9. How does Mrs. Testor become Polly Elizabeth's confidante after she and her sister leave the house?

10. In Chapter 4, what does Nanapush know about Mauser's history?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

An analogy is the comparison of an unfamiliar object or idea to a familiar one in an attempt to explain the unfamiliar or to help readers understand characters, events, or concepts. What are some analogies Erdrich uses in Four Souls? How do these analogies help readers comprehend and understand characters, events, or concepts?

Essay Topic 2

In Four Souls, some characters are more thoroughly described than others. Who are some characters that are merely named in passing or have a minor role in the novel? What is the importance of these flat characters to the storyline? In what way do these characters make the main characters more colorful or interesting? When there is conflict, what type of role do these flat characters play?

Essay Topic 3

What a reader knows about events and characters is determined by the point of view in a book. What points of view are used in Four Souls? How do these points of view and the different narrators influence what readers know about events and characters? How does changing the point of view help readers connect with and understand the characters?

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This section contains 953 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample