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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. Where does SIssie think that Ghana is?

2. What does the novel say about God's own babies?

3. What does the narrative claim about a 'moderate' black person?

4. Where do Marija and Sissie walk?

5. What is the name designation for being born on a Thursday?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sissie claim to expect at age 30?

2. Which angel is described as the Black Devil?

3. Where does Big Adolph work?

4. How does the poetic cycle in Part 2: "The Plums" claim that rulers gather their wealth?

5. To what does the narrator liken the experience of arguing with an academic-pseudo-intellectual black person?

6. What race Marija first assume Sissie to be?

7. What is the capital of Ghana?

8. What function does the castle in Bavaria now serve?

9. What part of Africa does Sissie liken to the "bowels of the earth" (11)?

10. To what does Sissie liken aeroplanes in Part 2: "The Plums?"

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay explaining why SIssie is uncomfortable in the west. What people, things, customs, or attitudes make Sissie insistent on going back to Africa? You may also evaluate Sissie's opinion from your own point of view. Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay in which you analyze the role of education in the novel. Who receives an education and where? What opportunities does education afford? Where is education provided? What are Sissie's thoughts on education? As always, use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

The story is told from Sissie's perspective. Write an essay in which you evaluate the author's decision on relating the story from Sissie's perspective, and whether another character's perspective would have been equally compelling.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 446 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample