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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 was Bernard doing when Shawnee arrived at his house?

2. What does Morris’ Ojibwe name mean?

3. What does Shawnee dream of when the fire starts?

4. What was Ira’s father’s job?

5. What has Apitichi been diagnosed with?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Ira worried when she talks to Seraphine?

2. What causes the fire at Ira’s house?

3. How does Shawnee feel about Honey?

4. Why is Bernard suspicious of Ira when she arrives?

5. What is Ira’s attitude towards herself?

6. Why does Ira kiss Morris?

7. Why does Morris fall in love with Ira?

8. Why are Shawnee and her brother fighting?

9. Why is Shawnee angry at her mother?

10. Why does Morris apologize to Ira?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the author’s note, Erdrich notes that “As in all of my books, no sacred knowledge is revealed” (277). Why do you think she chose to keep some of these traditional practices hidden? What role does sacred knowledge play in the story?

Essay Topic 2

How does the author juxtapose manmade settings with natural settings? How do the characters interact with these worlds? What do contrasting settings communicate about the novel’s themes?

Essay Topic 3

What do wolves symbolize in the novel? Do they mean different things to different people? What lessons do the wolves offer the reader?

(see the answer keys)

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