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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 did Saceteca stop Carlos?

2. What did don Juan do at the time of his son's death?

3. Why was coming into contact with an ally dangerous?

4. What did Carlos think was don Juan's reason for responding in such a manner to him?

5. What was don Juan's intention?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does each chapter end on a dramatic note?

2. How can a person who only 'sees' never really be happy or attached to anything?

3. Why, according to don Juan, can a blind man not truly laugh?

4. Why will Carlos never believe what actually went on with don Genaro at the waterfall?

5. What about Castaneda's behavior did don Genaro find amusing and why?

6. What differences does don Juan offer between his protectors and the ones created by the Catholic faith?

7. Why did the guardian stop Carlos?

8. What did Benigno and Lucio say in regards to don Juan?

9. Why did don Genaro repeat the sitting on his head feat so frequently?

10. What is extremely impolite among the Yaquis?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss why many people don't want to think about their own death. How does it make people feel? Speculate on why that is. What benefits could be gained by coming to terms with our own mortality?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the era in which this book was originally published. To what kind of public was Castaneda targeting? Why do you think this is? Do you believe that the social fabric of the world would accept this book if it was published now? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Carlos Castaneda must come to terms with the idea of his own death, and understand that death is always beside him at the map. Discuss how a person might feel when they are ever present with the idea of their own death. Discuss how that persons outlook on the world might change and shift. What kinds of things would become less important?

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This section contains 969 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample