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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. Why does the camp say they are making fun of Star Elk in Chapter 3?

2. What is Rainbow going to do to Waterlily because he is so glad she is alive?

3. Who do Gloku and her husband believe would be a good husband for Blue Bird?

4. What does Rainbow give away in Waterlily's name to celebrate during the ceremony in Chapter 8?

5. What is Blue Bird's response to Rainbow's marriage proposal?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Little Chief join the war party, and how does he help?

2. How does Star Elk act when Blue Bird decides to stay with her cousin for a few days after her child is born?

3. Describe Waterlily's hunka celebrations and the preparations that are made for it.

4. When Waterlily leaves Ohiya for a moment in Chapter 7, what happens and how is this rectified?

5. Due to his anger at Blue Bird and the way the rest of the camp circle is treating him, what does Star Elk do?

6. How does Gloku and the rest of the camp circle feel about Rainbow's marriage to Blue Bird?

7. What happens when Gloku takes Waterlily and Little Chief to the pile of prayers at Box Butte?

8. What story does Woyaka tell Black Eagle's family?

9. In Chapter 1, what does Blue Bird name her child, and why?

10. What do Rainbow and the other men do in response to finding the dead Indian and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How are the different symbols (the Hunka ceremony, the ghostkeeping, the Virgin's Fire, the Sun Dance) used throughout the novel to represent abstract concepts? Detail and explain how the symbols are used to describe certain abstract concepts and which concepts they describe.

Essay Topic 2

Describe Waterlily's relationship with the members of her family. What do her actions suggest in regards to her respect for her elders and for Dakota traditions?

Essay Topic 3

Investigate "Waterlily" as historical and cultural fiction. How does it adhere to and differ from the typical historical and/or cultural novel? What changes could be made to mark it more clearly as historical and cultural fiction? What changes could be made to prevent critics from classifying the novel as historical and/or cultural fiction?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 893 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample