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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 spirit, __________, comes to her in a dream.

2. Clement Rapelle, a Haitian man, dreams about a woman named Philomise who lives in a compound called _____________________.

3. Maggie is hospitalized with what?

4. This chapter is a story about the life of Alourdes' ______________, Philomise.

5. They are made to understand that they cannot reveal exactly what occurs in the initiation chamber; to do so is to cause what?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What do all the women in this family have in common?

3. What similarity exists between Marie Claire and Maggie?

4. What is Alourdes' main role in Vodou? Describe her actions in this role. Why does she act this way?

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

6. How do each of the four initiates handle the initiation rites? Who handles it the best?

7. What understanding does this chapter give us regarding Alourdes and her daughter?

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

9. 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?

10. How has Alourdes been like Ezili?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

There are many short, fictitious stories in this book.

Part 1) Describe two of these short stories. How is each important to the book? What do they each reveal about Haiti, Alourdes' family, and/or Vodou?

Part 2) How are these stories representatives of Haiti's oral tradition? Why is oral history so important to Alourdes' culture? How are the people of Haiti influenced by stories such as these?

Part 3) How is oral history important to other cultures around the world? How is it also a part of American culture? Why might fictitious stories be universal? Why are they created by humans?

(see the answer keys)

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