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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. What is the beaded rattle used to leverage the spirit world?

2. Macena shirks his responsibilities and spends all of his time where?

3. When Alourdes is possessed by Ogou, the __________ is always wielded.

4. Why does Sina decide to "give" Philo, her baby, to Madame Fouchard?

5. Philo is taken in by a generous woman named _______________.

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What all-important concept is discussed in this chapter? Give an example.

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

4. How does jealousy affect the plot of this story?

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

6. What do most Americans think of "voodoo?"

7. What does this chapter reveal about the Mauvant family and life in Haiti and in the Mauvant family compound?

8. What other imagery is used in this chapter? How does it affect the reader? What message does this imagery send?

9. How does one feel regarding Karen? Is it easy to sympathize with her? Why or why not?

10. How is the character Jepete important?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

An oral tradition is strong in Hatian culture.

Part 1) Describe oral tradition. What constitutes an oral tradition? How is this strong in the Haitian culture? Why is it so strong in the Haitian culture? How is this tied to Vodou?

Part 2) How are oral traditions and histories important in other cultures? How do these cultures compare to the Haitian Vodou cultures? What do all cultures with strong oral traditions have in common? Why?

Part 3) How is oral history important in your own culture? Is it as important as it was in the past? Why or why not? How does increased literacy affect oral traditions?

Essay Topic 2

There are four steps in the initiation ritual.

Part 1) What are these four steps? Describe and analyze each step. What is the purpose of each step? How does one step lead to another? What do these steps reveal or reinforce about Vodou?

Part 2) How does this initiation rite compare to rituals found in other religions and organizations? Why do these similarities exist?

Part 3) In what rituals have you participated? Why? How did you feel about these rituals and other religious rituals? Why is ritual important to humans?

Essay Topic 3

Karen's involvement in Vodou develops throughout this book.

Part 1) Describe Karen's involvement in Vodou at the beginning of this book? What has drawn her to Mama Lola and the subject of Vodou?

Part 2) How do her feelings regarding Vodou change over the course of the book? What causes these changes? How does this in turn change significant aspects of Karen's life and beliefs?

Part 3) What were your original beliefs regarding Vodou prior to reading this book? How did your views change over the course of reading this book? What led to these changes? How might these changes affect your beliefs regarding other religions and beliefs?

(see the answer keys)

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