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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. Each of these women represents a generational link in a chain that, if broken, will cause what to happen to future generations?

2. Danbala operates from the territory of ______________, asking questions.

3. ______________ is the mother, the one who bears the children.

4. The first is a _____________ in order to dislodge the spirits in one's head.

5. What does Karen decide?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. How has Alourdes been like Ezili?

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

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

10. What story takes place regarding Alourdes in the previous chapter? How is this related to this chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Karen and Alourdes are greeted in Haiti with a mix of fascination and expectation.

Part 1) Describe Alourdes and Karen's trip to Haiti. Why are they greeted in this way? What does this reveal about Karen, Alourdes, and the Haitian people?

Part 2) How does this greeting to one's greeting upon arriving in a community in the U.S.? Why would these similarities and/or differences exist?

Part 3) How might you be greeted in Haiti? Why might you be greeted in this way? How are people greeted in this way? How are people greeted into various countries and cultures around the world? Why do these differences exist? How do these differences reflect the relationships between various groups of people?

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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