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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 makes Camara feel very smart and helpful?

2. How does Camara feel about the transition from childhood to manhood?

3. Who talks to Camara's mother about his desire to study abroad in hopes of convincing her that it is a good idea?

4. When does the ritual procession around town finish?

5. How beautiful does Camara think Marie is?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens in the special hut where the young men are gathered, after the actual circumcision takes place?

2. How do Camara's parents initially react to his news about going to Paris?

3. What happens towards the middle of the night when the initial procession around town finishes?

4. How do the boys spend the rest of the night of their rite of passage after the roaring ceases, and how does it end?

5. What happens at the airport and on the plane to France?

6. At the end of Camara's third year of school, he takes his proficiency examinations. Describe what happens.

7. When Camara is a teenager, he must prepare for his culture's important rite of passage: circumcision. How and when does his ritual begin? How does Camara feel about it?

8. What happens in the special hut where the young men are gathered before the actual circumcision takes place?

9. How has Camara's hut in Kouroussa changed when he comes home for vacation?

10. Describe the character of Marie.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

After the gold work of Camara's father is finished, the praise-singer bursts into a douga. Describe in your own words, based on the context of the book, what a douga is. What is its influence on the people of Camara's community? Why is it sung? How do the characters react to it? What is its negative side effect? Why is it important in the African culture?

Essay Topic 2

The character of the praise-singer is mentioned in a few chapters of the "The Dark Child." What is a praise-singer? What is his role towards the community? When is he important? Explore his presence throughout the book; describe his tasks, influence and attitude. Compare/contrast his appearances in the different chapters.

Essay Topic 3

The tom-tom weaves all the rituals together throughout the book. When does the tom-tom sound? How do the villagers react to it? Explore the importance of the tom-tom throughout "The Dark Child", using supporting evidence from the different chapters and scenes.

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