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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. Where does Captain Rodney meet Leaphorn?

2. What is one thing a brief newspaper article says about Elogio Santillanes y Jimenez?

3. What myth do the surreal drawings represent that Chee studies in Highhawk's office?

4. What are Chee, Leaphorn and Rodney checking in the museum?

5. How long has it been since Elogio Santillanes y Jimenez is murdered when Fleck reads about him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What lesson does Fleck remember from his childhood?

2. Who comes to Leaphorn's hotel room and what do they want and how does Leaphorn handle the situation?

3. What does Leaphorn observe about the handwriting on papers in the victim's luggage and what does he realize about one of the papers?

4. What does Leaphorn learn when he calls his office?

5. Why do Chee and Highhawk agree to meet at the museum?

6. What do the prosecutors offer Highhawk and what is his response?

7. Describe the conversation between Leroy and Delmar Fleck.

8. What happens while Highhawk and Chee are sitting in Highhawk's office and what does Chee do?

9. Besides a Yeibichai mask, what else does Chee find of interest in Highhawk's office?

10. With whom does Chee have breakfast and what amazes Chee?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In chapter 4, Officer Chee is watching dancers prepare for the Yeibichai or Night Chant ceremony. Discuss the following

1. Research some Navajo rites or initiation ceremonies and describe them and give your thoughts about them.

2. What do you think is the purpose of ceremonies for the common events in human life (such as birth, death, marriage, etc.)?

3. Has Native American culture influenced some aspect of the predominant culture of the United States? How? Give examples and discuss fully.

Essay Topic 2

Oftentimes, a book is more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Talking God is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

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).

(see the answer keys)

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