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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. Who is Hilario Madreid-Pena?

2. How can an Amtrak train be stopped by a passenger in an emergency?

3. What does the caller want of Leaphorn?

4. Why does Leaphorn go out into the snow?

5. How does Tamana think he may be able to ensure his planned endeavor?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is one source of cash for Fleck to help his mother and who does he contact about it?

2. What shocks Catherine Perry about the box on her desk?

3. What does Anges Tsosie tell Joe Leaphorn when he questions her?

4. What is Jim Chee's response to Mary's letter?

5. Who does Leaphorn wish he could talk over the case with and why can't he?

6. What is Leroy Fleck's most pressing personal problem?

7. Why does Joe Leaphorn believe harmony has been restored in terms of the corpse in the desert?

8. Describe Agnes Tsosie's visit to the doctor.

9. Who has called Catherine Perry and what does she think he wants?

10. Describe what Joe Leaphorn finds at the crime scene Kennedy asks him to investigate.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of themes that run as a thread throughout the novel. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Trace the development of the theme of stolen artifacts. Use specific examples to illustrate how this theme is expressed. Analyze the examples and offer an analysis of how the idea of stolen artifacts informs the entire novel.

2. Trace the development of the theme of greed. Use specific examples to illustrate how this theme is expressed. Analyze the examples and offer an analysis of how greed seems to be more a part of the predominant culture of the United States versus that of the Navajo Indians.

3. Trace the development of the theme of violence. Use specific examples to illustrate how this theme is expressed. Analyze the examples and offer an analysis as to why this theme is central to the novel's plot.

Essay Topic 2

One of the overlying themes in this book and indeed most of Hillerman's books is the differences between White, Western culture and that of Native Americans. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Choose two of the following areas and compare and contrast the White, Western culture with the Native American culture: religion, nature, politics/government, marriage, death, war, gender roles.

2. Using the entire novel of Talking God, write an essay on how you think Hillerman perceives Native American culture.

3. Using the entire novel of Talking God, write an essay on how you think Hillerman perceives white, Western culture.

Essay Topic 3

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think Talking God is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,184 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample