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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 weapon does Sundiata use to dual with Konkon?

2. Which of the following types of poems is the genre which "Sundiata" belongs to?

3. To which family member is young Djata most attached?

4. Who do the Malian people believe should be the true king of Mali?

5. How long does Sassouma decide to wait until she finishes her plot against Sogolon?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens during Sundiata's first battle against Soumaoro?

2. What happens when Mali wages war against Kanty?

3. Why did ancient kings initially want griots?

4. How were Nana Triban and Sundiata reunited?

5. Why does Sundiata threaten the king of Mema, Tounkara?

6. What happens when Sundiata throws a spear at Soumaoro's chest in battle?

7. What one complaint does the griot have at the close of the book about modern day audiences in response to Sundiata's story?

8. Why is Sogolon presented as a gift to the king?

9. How does the reader receive the information about Sundiata's friends and their lives after the fall of Mali?

10. Why do Sundiata and Soumaoro continue to battle with each other even after the initial fight that wiped out Soumaoro's men?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although Sundiata had many siblings, there were three who had the largest impact on his life - Nana Triban, Manding Bory, and Dankaran. Breifly describe each of Sundiata's three siblings, and explain how each sibling irrevocably altered Sundiata's life, either for better or worse.

Essay Topic 2

The battle scenes of the book are particularly vivid as the griot remembers every detail of Sundiata's successes. Choose one memorable battle scene in the book and recount it. Then, explain how the selective memory of the griot transforms the battle scenes from fact to legend.

Essay Topic 3

Even though it had been his lifelong ambition to overthrow Soumaoro, Sundiata leaves the disgraced sorcerer to finish off his days hiding in a cave. Create a time line of events for the changing relationship between Sundiata and Soumaoro. Then, explain how the legacy of Sundiata is altered by his decision to have mercy on Soumaoro and let him live.

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This section contains 848 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample