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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. The book explores the effect of white people on ___________________.

2. Who is Omakayas' younger brother?

3. What is Old Tallow holding as Omakayas approaches her house?

4. What does Omakayas become convinced about regarding the bear?

5. What is Deydey especially pleased with when he comes home?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is significant about Omakayas' encounter with the bears?

2. Give some examples of Andeg being able to use speech to communicate.

3. How does Tallow represent an important theme in the book?

4. Describe Omakayas' encounter with the two bear cubs and their mother.

5. Who is One Horn and when do Omakayas and Angeline encounter him?

6. Who are Albert La Pautre and Fishtail, and what important topic do they discuss with Deydey?

7. What does Omakayas do with a wounded crow?

8. What do the voyageurs do with the baby and what thoughts of guilt does Hat have?

9. How do Mama and Nokomis differ in their views of sending Omakayas on a spiritual quest?

10. What does the dizzy spell signify for Omakayas?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the overall setting for the story. Why does the author use the setting she does? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the characters?

Essay Topic 2

Explain Louise Erdrich's use of regionalism in the book. Cite examples of at least two different instances of regionalism and explain why the author used them where she did.

Essay Topic 3

Create a brief character study of Omakayas. What did she look like? What were her positive personality traits? What were her dreams and fears? What was most valuable to her in her world?

(see the answer keys)

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