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

2. Why does Highhawk wish to speak with Janet Pete privately?

3. Who is Alice Yoakum?

4. Whose body was discovered under some bushes?

5. What is the name of the exhibit Highhawk is setting up?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe the conversation between Fleck and the Client and Fleck's reaction afterward.

3. Who does Fleck follow to the Smithsonian?

4. What lesson does Fleck remember from his childhood?

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

6. What do Chee, Leaphorn and Captain Rodney find in the bin that contains artifacts from Borneo?

7. Describe Fleck's conversation with "The Client" after reading the newspaper articles.

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

9. What is Fleck's association with Eddy Elkins and why does Fleck think of him in this chapter?

10. With whom do Chee and Leaphorn meet and what does Chee tell the person?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Talking God, like most detective novels, involves the act of murder. Discuss the following:

1. What is murder? Is the act of murder always clearly murder?

2. Do you think the death of Leroy Fleck, who is a known murderer, is at all tragic? Why or why not.

3. Is murder ever justified? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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