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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. ____________ at the Wide Ruins trading post had told Ben about the squaw dance, so Ben tried to figure out how to go.

2. Ben tried to share his __________ with Abel, but Abel would not take it.

3. Who was NOT one of the people who hung out with Abel on his last night in town before leaving on the bus?

4. Abel told Ben and Milly a story about a ___________ he had on the reservation and how it used to love the water.

5. Who was NOT one of the people Ben thought would not leave Abel alone?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

It's obvious that Momaday cares deeply for the Native American culture and its preservation, which makes sense as he is also of Native American descent.

Part 1: How do you think Momaday portrays Native Americans? In a positive way or in a negative way?

Part 2: How do you think Momaday's own cultural background may have influenced his storytelling?

Part 3: Had the author not been Native American, how might the story have changed?

Essay Topic 2

The memories that flood back into Abel's mind give the reader a sense of who he was when he was younger, but also a sense of who is is in the present day.

Part 1: Why do you think Momaday decided to write about Abel through the memories he has?

Part 2: Why are memories a good way to get to know someone?

Part 3: Do you think the story would have been stronger if the life story of Abel had been told in a more conventional way? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The initial opening with the trap that did not catch what it was intended to catch seems to be symbolic for the rest of the manuscript.

Part 1: In what way is Abel trapped in this story? Could he have avoided his trap?

Part 2: What other characters might be seen as trapped? Why?

Part 3: What might the symbolic dead body floating down the stream refer to in the story? Who also has been let go? Why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 359 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample