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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 does Faye refer to as “an unforeseen drawback” of her actions (74)?

2. Who is Faye visiting in the first scene of the novel?

3. What childhood craft does Kurt associate with Kendra?

4. How many siblings does Bernard have?

5. To which tribe did Faye’s grandmother belong?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to the Eyke family car?

2. How does Albert learn about Old Shaawano’s plan to make a drum?

3. Why does Faye avoid wearing red when she works?

4. How does Bernard make his father rethink the fate of his sister, Old Shaawano’s daughter?

5. What was Bernard’s motivation in beating up his father?

6. How does Bernard Shaawano feel about Chook?

7. How does Old Shaawano behave while mourning the loss of his wife and daughter?

8. Why does Old Shaawano choose his particular symbols to paint on the drum?

9. Why does Old Shaawano choose to confide in Geeshik?

10. How does Faye break the traditional rules of the painted drum?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel suggests two possibilities for the death of Old Shaawano’s daughter: she was sacrificed by her mother, or she sacrificed herself to save them. Which story do you think is true? How does your perception of the story change for each possibility?

Essay Topic 2

Identify three sets of foil characters in the novel. How do these characters emphasize and contrast each other?

Essay Topic 3

How does the painted drum ultimately bring Bernard’s community back together? What did its loss symbolize to the people, and what have they gained through its restoration? Why do you think it needed to be returned before the community could fully reconnect?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 752 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample