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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. Don Juan tells Castaneda: "The secret is not in what you do ________________, but rather in what you don't do."

2. Castaneda learns how to do a dance that thumps like a __________ from Don Juan in the evening.

3. Don Juan says that the storing of _________ is a personal thing that he cannot define or explain.

4. The place of power is not a ___________, so there are no bones buried there as Castaneda guesses might be.

5. Don Juan tricked Castaneda into confronting her for the purpose of finding Castaneda a ______________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Castaneda say that he fears Don Genero when he meets up with him again?

2. What does Don Juan say when Castaneda asks him how old he is, as he sees him moving with agility?

3. What does a warrior have to do when he is out on the hunt?

4. What does Don Juan tell Castaneda about his feelings of remorse about his own life?

5. Why are the town partygoers annoyed with Castaneda, even though he buys drinks for everyone?

6. How does Don Juan say that a good hunter will always know when someone else has been somewhere?

7. What costume does Castaneda see Don Juan as wearing when he and the other men are sitting around the fire?

8. What does Castaneda say is like a disease to him, which he begins to realize is a problem?

9. What needs to happen in order for Don Juan to know Castaneda is ready to hunt power?

10. What does Don Juan say about his own death and his interaction with it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout this story are various omens that are meant to show Castaneda things about himself.

Part 1: Why are omens important in this story?

Part 2: Which omen is most important to Castaneda's learning? Why?

Part 3: Why do you think the crow continues to show up for Castaneda in this book?

Essay Topic 2

Don Juan is insistent that Castaneda must not want change because he doesn't seem to be changing much between their meetings.

Part 1: Why is it important to Don Juan that he see change in Castaneda?

Part 2: Do you think Castaneda really wants to change himself? Why or why not?

Part 3: Can a person avoid changing? Why or why not? Isn't change just a natural process that doesn't need to be instigated? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The decision to meet with Don Juan is one that Castaneda does not make lightly. At the same time, it seems to be a decision he doesn't quite think through.

Part 1: Why do you think Castaneda choose Don Juan to work with in his book?

Part 2: Do you think Don Juan believes Castaneda to be a worthy student? Why or why not?

Part 3: What might Castaneda have done differently if he were to be able to redo his first meeting with Don Juan?

(see the answer keys)

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