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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. Whose household does Gbessa eventually go to for work?

2. Why is Norman no longer able to stay invisible on the ship?

3. Where does Maisy work?

4. Where does Norman wake up after being punched on the ship?

5. How many children does Marlene's friend Norma have?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Gbessa during an assault on one of the villages by the French?

2. What does Mr. Johnson say to rally the crowd at his house in Part IV?

3. What does Gbessa think when she first sees Marlene Johnson, and how does Marlene react?

4. What does Maisy insist on doing to Gbessa's hair?

5. What surprises Norman about his jailers when he first sees them in Monrovia?

6. How does Gbessa react to Norman and June Dey at first?

7. How does Norman escape from jail?

8. Where had June Dey been trying to get to when he found himself bound for Africa?

9. Why is Ms. Ernestine upset at the Johnson's banquet?

10. Why does Norman help Gbessa when he finds her on the road?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the very end of the novel, Gbessa, Norman, and June Dey are all reunited to fight for the future of Liberia on the beach, and they are outnumbered against the French. Even so, Gbessa is confident of her "resurrection." Write an essay explaining the significance of this battle and of the reuniting of the three protagonists at this moment in the plot.

Essay Topic 2

How does June Dey discover his gift, and what does he do with it afterwards? How does meeting Norman change June Dey's understanding of his gift and how he may choose to use it? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 3

What are Gbessa's first impressions upon arriving in Monrovia, and how do her perceptions of the place change over her time there as she moves from being a servant to being a married woman of society? Write an essay explaining your answers.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 631 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample