View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where do Josiah and Tayo fill up their water barrels?

2. What does the woman with reddish hair do when white men come to harass the women at the arroyo?

3. How old is Tayo when his mother leaves him?

4. How is Tayo able to anticipate Auntie’s mood?

5. Who bootlegs beer to the Indians?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kind of Indian is Tayo and what are his earliest memories of his mother?

2. How is Rocky different from Tayo and what does Rocky want to do when he is an adult?

3. Why do the two ranch hands leave Tayo alone?

4. How does Rocky and Auntie feel about Josiah’s decision on how to take care of the cattle?

5. Where is Tayo when his friends find him and what does Tayo tell himself about them?

6. How do Josiah and the boys learn about cattle care?

7. How does Robert begin to break through to Tayo and why might Robert be a good person to talk to his nephew?

8. What does Old Grandma do with Tayo, what does he think he needs to do and what does she want him to do?

9. What does the herd of cattle do as soon as they are unloaded and what does Josiah tell Tayo about their behavior?

10. Who is Night Swan and how does she know Josiah?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the various sexual encounters in the story, we see that Indian attitudes about morality and behavior that are different from that of the white culture.

Compare and contrast the differences between Indian and white culture’s attitudes towards morality and behavior. Use examples from Ceremony to support your response.

Essay Topic 2

Define plot and include the definitions of the most important elements of a plot. Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not? Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Ceremony, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot? Give a brief synopsis of any important sub-plots.

Essay Topic 3

When Ku'oosh comes to Tayo, he brings medicines — the Indian tea and the blue corn, but he also brings stories, another form of medicine.

Discuss why stories might help a person dealing with mental or emotional agony. What are two stories Tayo is told and how do you think they related to his situation?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 909 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample