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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 Eldon Tamana?

2. What is in the letter that Chee opens in chapter 7?

3. Who is Mary Langdon?

4. Where does Leaphorn go to search Madrid-Perez's luggage?

5. Who wants to become a member of the Navajo tribe?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What frustrates Leaphorn about the dead body in the desert, and also what about the corpse puzzles Leaphorn.

4. Why hasn't The Client paid Fleck the rest of the money owed Fleck?

5. What does Janet Pete tell Jim Chee about a man in a Chevy?

6. Who picks up Chee at the airport and what does he observe about the men?

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

8. What ceremony is Jim Chee observing and why is he there?

9. What does Janet say about one of McDermott's clients who is a real estate developer?

10. For whom does Janet Chee work and what is her relationship to her immediate supervisor?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of death. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with death? Why? What are some symbols of death? How much does this theme contribute to the plot of the story?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of mental/emotional illness. Which characters struggle with some sort of emotional illness? Why? Which characters seem really healthy emotionally/mentally? Why? Can the characters who seem mentally ill change? Why or why not?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of camaraderie within the ranks of cops. Why is this camaraderie important to some characters? Is anyone willing to abandon the camaraderie or feeling of belonging? Who? Why? What are the positive and negative sides to cops having such a closed fraternity? What other organizations maintain a close adhesion? Do they do so for the same reasons as cops do?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Talking God, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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