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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. How do the drinkard and his wife escape the people of "Unreturnable-Heaven's Town"?

2. What does the drinkard turn himself into after they get to the river and cut down a tree?

3. Which god does the king make the drinkard meet?

4. Who does the woman marry?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

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

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

4. Comment on the parent-child relationship, during "On the Way to an Unknown Place." What is significant about the characters' roles?

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

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

7. What is symbolic about the magic seeds?

8. What lesson can be learned from the little creature on Wraith-Island who was not picked by the King to help clear the corn fields?

9. In the first town that the palm-wine drinkard visits, he meets an old man who gives him two challenges. How does the drinkard complete these tasks and what does this say about his human and non-human abilities?

10. In "Three Good Creatures Took Over Our Trouble," how do the drinkard and his wife make money? What might this say about their characters?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are many borders in The Palm-wine drinkard, and trespassing these borders can create trouble. Choose three examples of trespassing and explain why they are significant. Next, discuss the symbolism in borders and border crossing. Are the examples you listed at all allegorical? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Symbolism is employed throughout The Palm-wine Drinkard. Discuss the use of and meaning of three symbols. (The teacher could specify three symbols as well: juju, gun, egg, seed, half-bodied baby, etc.).

Essay Topic 3

Fantasy and Magical Realism are two distinct but related literary genres. Discuss:

(1) The differences between the two genres.

(2) Can The Palm-wine Drinkard be considered a fantasy? Why or why not?

(3) Can The Palm-wine Drinkard be considered a an example of Magical Realism? Why or why not?

(4) How would you classify The Palm-wine Drinkard?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 977 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample