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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 profession does Aunty Nabou insist her niece take up?

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

3. How is Aunty Nabou received when she arrives at her destination?

4. What is another secret revealed about the deceased?

5. What is the family's response to the narrator's non-traditional simple wedding ceremony?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the response that many of those around Ramatoulaye have to the offer of marriage by Daouda and why?

2. How does the narrator feel about Tamsir's (Modou's brother) offer of marriage to take place after the mourning period? Why does Tamsir make this offer of marriage?

3. Why is Farmata disappointed in how Ramatoulaye handles Aissatou's pregnancy?

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

5. How is Daouda Dieng significant to the narrator?

6. How does the narrator feel about the problems with Aissatou?

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

8. How does the family feel about Ibrahima?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Women have little economic or political power in Senegal at the time this book is set in the 1950-1960s. Research how if at all, Senegal has changed since the time of the setting of this book in terms of the equality between men and women. Would you want to live in a culture as that of Senegal of that time? Why or why not?

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

Marriage has changed dramatically in the United States even in the last fifty years. Research as to how marriage has changed in the United States. Do you think marriage will eventually be a thing of the past? Is marriage important for the stability of a culture? How would the culture of the United States change if there was no such thing as legal marriage? How would this impact the well being of children? Are there advantages to not having the institution of marriage?

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This section contains 968 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample