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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. The day arrives when a ________ (an evil spirit, in this case, a two legged horse which stands straight like a man) visits Madame Fouchard in the middle of the night.

2. What does Mauvant vomit up?

3. By the end of this chapter, Alourdes does what for Karen?

4. Alourdes ____________ the family spirits that inhabit the land.

5. Why does Alourdes do this for Karen?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does this culture affect men like Macena? How is Sina finally able to escape him? How does this lead to a change in her life?

2. What is revealed about the relationship between Mama Lola and the spirits in this chapter? How is this relationship important?

3. How is Mama Lola affected by the needs of these spirits? What are the end results of her actions?

4. What sets Alourdes further apart from the poor Haitians?

5. How do you feel about Karen marrying Ogou? How does this marriage change the path of Karen's life? What does this also teach her?

6. Compare Azaka to Joseph Binbin Mauvant.

7. What does the author say is the purpose of every other chapter in the book? What does this reveal about the author's role in writing these chapters?

8. How are Sina and Philo similar? What actions do they take? What does this reveal about them?

9. What is Alourdes' purpose for arranging the 'manje pov?'

10. How is the legend of Joseph Binbin Mauvant important?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The roles of men and women are very different in Haitian culture.

Part 1) Describe the roles of men and women in Haitian culture. How are these roles revealed throughout this book? How is Vodou connected to these roles?

Part 2) How does this explain and reinforce the strength of the women in Alourdes' family? How might it also play a part in drawing Karen into Haitian and Vodou culture?

Part 3) What are the roles of men and women in your own culture? How have these roles come about? How do they compare to the roles in Haitian culture?

Essay Topic 2

There are many Vodou spirits.

Part 1) Describe four of these spirits. What is the role of each spirit in Vodou culture? How is this connected with the treatment of these spirits by Vodou practitioners?

Part 2) How do Vodou spirits influence the lives of the Haitians? Are they a powerful force in Haitian culture? Why or why not?

Part 3) What spirits or religious entities are influential in other cultures around the world? How are they influential in the U.S.?

Essay Topic 3

There is a growing need for Manbos.

Part 1) What is a manbo? How is this person important in Vodou culture? Why are manbos increasingly more important in Haiti? What does this reveal about Vodou culture and life in Haiti?

Part 2) How are these cultural changes seen in other cultures around the world? How is religion becoming more important in some cultures? Why?

Part 3) Would you want to be a manbo? Why or why not? Would you be able to accept a role such as this in another religious organization, if it were offered to you or asked of you? Why or why not? How do manbos reflect the role of religious leaders in a community?

(see the answer keys)

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