View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Philo catches the black fever plaguing Haiti. During her recovery, Ageou visits Philo in a dream and tells her what?
(a) How to protect Clement Rapelle's son.
(b) How to find Clement Rapelle's son.
(c) How to cure Clement Rapelle's son.
(d) How to give Clement Rapelle a son.

2. What happens to a person who catches a glimpse of her beneath the water that reaches out to touch her?
(a) He or she is taken under the water and drowned.
(b) He or she loses his or her mind.
(c) He or she goes deaf.
(d) He or she is blinded.

3. It is noted that what was removed at the same time?
(a) The fetus of a partially formed twin sister.
(b) Her uterus.
(c) Her ovaries.
(d) The fetus of a partially formed twin brother.

4. There are ___________ levels of initiation into Vodou.
(a) Four.
(b) Three.
(c) Two.
(d) Five.

5. We learn in this chapter that Maggie is almost more like a ______________ to Alourdes, someone upon who she relies heavily in her work as a manbo.
(a) Stranger.
(b) Sister.
(c) Cousin.
(d) Friend.

Short Answer Questions

1. The litany of spirits and the litany of ancestral rite would be impossible to maintain in the realm of _________________ where the human and the divine are forbidden to mix.

2. What does Philo not want to do?

3. Maggie tells the story of losing a ___________ (an important item in Vodou initiation rituals.) while in Haiti.

4. The spirit Papa Danbala is very _________, so when he "mounts" his horse, or manbo, in the possession-performance, he utters sounds only and does not speak.

5. What does Alourdes ask Karen?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does Aunt Emma represent? Why is this important?

2. What is significant about Karen's marriage to Papa Danbala?

3. What is the purpose of the Ezili spirits?

4. What is learned about the choices made regarding the women in this culture?

5. What are Philo's plans for Alourdes, prior to her birth? How does this plan change?

6. What is one of the most important lessons learned about the practice of Vodou from reading this book? How is Karen's involvement in Mama Lola's story important to most readers of this book?

7. What is learned about participating in the initiation rite?

8. What do the initiates have to do in the cemetery?

9. Compare the focus on morality and sexuality in the Vodou culture as compared the many people in America? How do these differences affect many Americans' views of Vodou?

10. How is myth important in Alourdes' life of Vodou?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 970 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample