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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 Matus tell Castaneda to rinse with, but not to swallow?

2. In what state does Matus reside, as Castaneda arrives there on August 4, 1961?

3. Who does Castaneda see carrying a large knapsack?

4. Who is not to participate in the cutting or in the digging of the plants?

5. Mescalito is not a _______ to be used for personal reasons.

Short Essay Questions

1. Which spot is the spot that Castaneda feels most comfortable and happy?

2. Where are Castaneda and the six Indians driving to when he arrives at Matus' home on August 4, 1961?

3. What will happen if Castaneda does not receive his first 7 mescalitos from someone other than Matus?

4. What does Castaneda focus on the Indians' pre-contact use of, as illustrated by his experiences in this book?

5. What will a person gain if they take Datura's second portion at least twenty times?

6. After a year of sidestepping questions from Castaneda about Peyote, what does Matus account?

7. Why does Carlos Castaneda want to work with Don Juan Matus?

8. What are the four 'heads' of Jimson Weed, or Devil's Weed?

9. What does Castaneda do with the dog he sees while he is taking the mescalitos?

10. What area does Castaneda mark with his jacket?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is a lot of ritual and ceremony in this book, often to encourage the spirits of the plants to work with Castaneda or with Matus.

Part 1: Define the idea of ritual and of ceremony as it is seen in this book.

Part 2: Why is it important that the men attach a ritual or a ceremony to the work they do?

Part 3: What might happen without the addition of ritual or of ceremony? Does it not matter if these aspects are included or not?

Essay Topic 2

Sometimes the experiences Castaneda has during this story are seemingly times when he goes mad or loses control of his senses.

Part 1: Describe the scene in which Castaneda is playing with the black dog.

Part 2: Do you think this black dog is real? Why or why not?

Part 3: What are some other explanations for the presence of the black dog in this scene?

Essay Topic 3

At many points of the story, Matus does not give Castaneda answers to his questions, leading to confusion and often frustration in Castaneda.

Part 1: List at least two questions that Castaneda asks of Matus but does not get an answer for.

Part 2: Why do you think Matus chooses not to answer some of Castaneda's questions, but does choose to answer others?

Part 3: Do you think Castaneda would learn more if Matus told him everything up front? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 630 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample