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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 does Alourdes ask Karen?

2. During this procedure, she dreams of ____________ that makes her swear she will take the ason. She does swear it, and the medical procedure is a success.

3. Philo catches the black fever plaguing Haiti. During her recovery, Ageou visits Philo in a dream and tells her what?

4. According to the Vodou philosophy, the world is a precarious place, and it is naïve to think what?

5. At the end of the blessing, Alourdes mentions to Karen that Maggie is going to __________ (undergo the ritual initiation into Vodou) in July.

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

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

4. What is one of the best stories in this chapter? Why?

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

6. How does Philo feel about Alourdes? Why might she feel this way?

7. What does this chapter reiterate about the responsibility of serving the spirits?

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

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

10. Why do the initiates do the answer to number 55 in the cemetery?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The truth about Vodou is told in this book.

Part 1) Summarize Vodouism. What are the truths about Vodouism? How do these truths compare to your initial thoughts about Vodou?

Part 2) How does Vodouism compare to other religions? What are the reasons for these similarities and differences?

Part 3) How has your opinion and knowledge of Vodou changed throughout the course of this book? How might this influence your opinions of other religions and beliefs?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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.?

(see the answer keys)

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