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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 disagrees with Highhawk's work?

2. Who is Janet's firm's expert on the Southwest?

3. What does the note in the box reveal?

4. Who is Captain Largo?

5. What is Leaphorn asked to search?

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 is so mysterious about the body in the desert?

3. What does Catherine Perry find on her desk and who does she blame?

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

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

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

7. What is Catherine Perry's thoughts about Highhawk's request?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Getting the most out of this novel requires some familiarity with the Navajo cultures. 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. Who are the Navajo? What are some of the different clans of Navajo? How do the various clans differ, if they do? What are some of their common beliefs? How do the Navajo live in today's world?

3. How does the Navajo culture inform the plot and actions of this novel? Give examples.

4. Compare and contrast the cultures of two Southwestern Native American tribes.

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in Talking God. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Hillerman chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in Talking God. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Hillerman chooses the metaphors he does?

3. Discuss Hillerman's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Hillerman use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 3

Talking God, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy (or at least optimistic) note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Silent Prey and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Talking God is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

4. Discuss one idea in Talking God that might influence your thinking.

(see the answer keys)

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