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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. Who killed Jean Marais' wife?

2. What did critics think of Jean Marais ?

3. What issue does this book explore?

4. What photo does Minke express appreciation for In Chapter 2?

5. How does Annelies feel when Minke sees her In Chapter 4?

Short Essay Questions

1. What tensions exist between natives and European blood according to Chapter 2?

2. What does the conversation with Nyai in Chapter 6 reveal about Minke's education?

3. Who is Robert Suurhof?

4. How did Nyai strive to be the best companion to Herman Mellema?

5. What event changed Herman Mellema forever?

6. Describe Jean Marais' painting and what he thinks it means.

7. What does Nyai show Minke in Chapter 6 and what is she suspicious about?

8. What does Nyai reveal about her life in Chapter 5?

9. What does the term "historical fiction" mean?

10. What is the significance of Jean Marais being a private first class in the army?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define the term climax and decide where the point of climax is within the plot. Explain how the event fits the definition of climax and site examples from the book.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the character of Minke. How does Minke change from the beginning to the end of the book? Why? Do you believe Minke is innocent at the start of the book? Choose one other character in the book (other than Annelies and Nyai) and explain their relationship with Minke.

Essay Topic 3

How does Toer address the theme of growing up in his book? Choose two examples of examples of growth and explain how these examples contribute to the theme of coming of age.

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