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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 is the mirasse?

2. What does Aunty Nabou demand?

3. What is the difference between the men and women during the gathering for the deceased?

4. To whom is the narrator writing her diary?

5. In Modou's letters to the narrator while getting his degree, for what did he say he longed?

Short Essay Questions

1. How would you describe Ramatoulaye's attitudes about men and women? Could she be considered a feminist?

2. What does the narrator think of those who go to school instead of learning traditional crafts?

3. What is the overall tone of the end of this collection of letters?

4. With what does Aissatou surprise the narrator and what is Modou's response? Does it surprise you, the reader, that another woman would give a car to a her best friend when the husband is not providing for her?

5. What is the first of Modou's secrets that is revealed?

6. Describe the process of "making donations." How does the narrator feel about this process?

7. What is the response to the taking down of the hair by each wife?

8. What does Ramatoulaye feel about Daouda and his offer of marriage?

9. What are the circumstances leading up to Modou marrying Binetou?

10. How does the narrator learn of Modou's new wife and what is she told?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Besides morality having changed in the United States, the differences between what is considered right and wrong vary from culture to culture. Research three cultures other than the United States whose predominant religions are different and learn about their ideas of right and wrong. (For example, use a country where Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism are the predominant religion). Discuss how these three cultures differ. How are they similar? Do you feel more comfortable with one culture over the other two? Why?

Essay Topic 2

How different would this book be if it were set in the United States? Japan? Discuss some of the differences among Senegal, the United States, and Japan, as far as the relationship between men and women, the power or lack of power of women. What are some similarities?

Essay Topic 3

Forgiveness. Many people think of forgiveness as an individual act of one person forgiving someone else, as in the story when Ramatoulaye forgives first her husband for deserting her and then her daughter, Aissatou for becoming pregnant out of wedlock. This is one type of forgiveness, but let's look at forgiveness on a grander scale. Research and write an essay on how Germany was treated at the end of WWI versus the end of WWII--what were the differences?

How did the harsh treatment of Germany after WWI contribute to WWII happening, if it did--would Germany have become a different country if it had been treated with forgiveness after WWI?

Do you think that the fact that Germany, Italy, and Japan are successful nations today has to do with the forgiveness offered them after WWII--discuss whether nations be forgiven aggression after they are defeated and how much reparations should be exacted.

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