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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. Whom does Meena describe in Book Two, Chapter 5 as “the jolly abolitionist”?

2. Who among the slaves with Meena makes the greatest spectacle when being auctioned by fighting against the captors in Book Two, Chapter 6?

3. What is the name of Meena’s baby that was taken by Mr. Appleby and sold?

4. What is the word that Meena uses to describe the storyteller in her village in Book One, Chapter 4?

5. From what people does Meena describe her mother coming from in Book One, Chapter 2?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the procedure of the slave auction described in Book Two, Chapter 6?

2. How is Meena’s relationship with each of her parents described in Book One, Chapter 2?

3. Who oversees the slaves at Appleby’s plantation in Book Two, Chapter 7? How many slaves does Meena describe there?

4. What is Meena’s full name? Why is she located in her current setting in Book One, Chapter 1?

5. Whose deaths does Meena describe hearing about through the fishnet in the beginning of Book Two, Chapter 10?

6. Why is Aminata given the name “Meena” by the other slaves on the plantation in Book Two, Chapter 7?

7. How does Aminata describe the history of storytellers in her village in Book One, Chapter 4?

8. What does Aminata asks Chekura to do when she begins menstruating in Book One, Chapter 3?

9. When does Meena have her first child in Book Two, Chapter 8? How is this experience described?

10. What setting is described in the opening of Book Two, Chapter 6? How do the slaves react to this setting?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Chief Biton and his organization and planning of the slave revolt in Book One, Chapter 4. How was Biton able to unlock his shackles? How was information passed between the slaves? Why do you think the revolt was unsuccessful?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the procedures of slave-auctions in the colonies and the setting of Charles Town. Where were slave auctions held in the city of Charles Town? How realistic is the author’s depiction of this event? How realistically are the slave auctions depicted in Someone Knows My Name?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the protagonist and narrator of the novel as introduced in Book One, Chapter 1. How old is Aminata Diallo at this point in the story? What characteristics stand out about Aminata based on her use of language and observations? How does Aminata change in the story?

(see the answer keys)

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