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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. At the graveside, what does the narrator hope whoever killed Hector would do?

2. Who sang an old mourning song by the graveside after Hector's casket was buried?

3. What does the narrator think Hector may have done which got him killed?

4. At the graveside, what does the narrator hope the Indians who killed Hector did as they "buried his body deep in the woods" (3)?

5. What is the best thing the narrator recalls his father saying to him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the narrator say it was inevitable that Hector would become "a violent man who died violently" (3)?

2. Why does the narrator feel certain Hector would not have been killed by a white man?

3. Why does the narrator feel certain Hector was most likely killed by a member of his own tribe?

4. How does the narrator feel at the end of the story standing in the cemetery?

5. How does the narrator imagine Hector met his death after leaving for Spokane?

6. What does the narrator plan to do at the end of the story?

7. What does one of the mourners say will happen in 100 years before they leave the cemetery?

8. Who is Agnes? Why does the narrator have a picture of her?

9. What is the best thing the narrator's father ever said to him?

10. At the cemetery, who does the narrator imagine is in Hector's casket?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing Alexie's commentary on Native American History in "Happy Trails." How is this history important to the story? How does it affect the narrative? Use textual evidence to explain your analysis.

Essay Topic 2

Write a brief essay elaborating on the narrator's comment that his mother did not share her traditions with him. What does this mean? How does this develop the story's themes?

Essay Topic 3

Define setting and discuss the significance of Alexie's choice of the reservation and cemetery as setting in the story. How is setting used? Why is it important?

(see the answer keys)

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