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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. After meeting Drums, Song, and Dance, what does the drinkard do for five days?

2. What does the drinkard use to transform himself to escape the creatures, in "No road--out to travel from bust to bush to the Dead's town"?

3. What "right thing" does the old man (a god) want the drinkard to bring back from the black-smith?

4. Why do the attendants bring an eagle?

5. About how much does "half-bodied baby" weight by the time the drinkard starts carrying him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is "Faithful-Mother"? What is her responsibility?

2. Describe the drinkard's reaction when he saves the woman from Skull, brings her home, but then cannot get the cowrie off her neck, which prevents her from speaking and eating. Why is this significant?

3. Do the drinkard and his wife enjoy staying on Wraith-Island? Why or why not?

4. There is a common saying, "like father like son." How is this true in respect to the drinkard and his son Zurrjir?

5. How does the drinkard react when he first sees the Skull as a "complete gentleman"?

6. Describe "Laugh."

7. Describe Death and his house.

8. How do the drinkard and his wife eventually escape from the white creatures?

9. Who is the narrator of this novel? What is he like?

10. What is special about Drum, Song, and Dance?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is a didactic nature to many of the episodes in The Palm-wine Drinkard. Choose three examples and explain why they can be considered didactic.

Essay Topic 2

Although written in the folktale fashion, The Palm-wine Drinkard is a product of an educated Nigerian man who wrote for an English speaking publisher, during the 20th century. Discuss the balance between African tradition and Western modernization. Use at least three distinct examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

While in Dead's Town the tapster explains that "alives" and "deads" can not live together because they each think the other group does everything backwards or incorrectly. Comment on this allegorical chapter using these questions to guide you:

(1) What happens in this chapter? Where else in the book do we find similar events and themes?

(2) What are these scene allegories for?

(3) Is there a moral lesson or resolution to these allegories? Explain why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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