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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 is Gimilo?

2. What does Henderson believe the tribe is trying to do to him?

3. What do the villagers kick and mock?

4. What does Dahfu bet?

5. Wat kind of animal does Henderson leave with?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Henderson's bad feeling in Chapter Twenty?

2. What bet do Henderson and Dahfu make?

3. What does Henderson remember about the argument with his father at Dick's funeral?

4. Describe Dahfu.

5. How does Romilayu save Henderson from evil?

6. What does Henderson write in his letter to Lilly?

7. How does Henderson defend his sessions with Dahu and Atti?

8. What is Henderson's life like as an Sungo?

9. Describe how Henderson gets home?

10. How does Henderson feel as he is running through the town in Chapter Fourteen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss whether you think this statement is true or false: "The character of Henderson is a portrayal of American societty's increasingly individualistic outlook. Use two examples from the novel to support your argument.

Essay Topic 2

Examine Henderson's decision to leave his family for such a long time. Do characters such as Ricey and Lily need him to stay? How does his decision affect them? Does Henderson have an alternative to going to Africa, one that that still allows him to discover who he is? Is such an act could potentially destructive to a family? What does it say about American society that he decides to leave?

Essay Topic 3

Examine all the philosophical ideas that Bellow uses in the book, for example, the philosophy of existentialism. Why is the question of human nature such an important question in this book? How do the philosophies relate to the novel and its characters. In what way does Bellow use elements such as dialogue and characterization to communicate these ideas?

(see the answer keys)

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