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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 is playing on the juke box at the Y bar when Tayo and the others enter the bar?

2. What does Tayo do right before Rocky begins to dress a deer they killed in a hunt?

3. What does Josiah ride when he is cutting cattle out on a deal with Ulibarri?

4. What are the two names that all of creation is said to have in modern times?

5. In May where does Tayo tell his family he is going to go?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Betonie tell Tayo about change and trust?

2. What does Tayo first do when he leaves Betonie?

3. What does Tayo’s mother do with him when he is four?

4. What does Tayo find out when he returns to his family?

5. Why does Tayo attack Emo?

6. How does Tayo prefer to sleep and how does Old Grandma and Robert feel around Tayo?

7. What does Tayo remember about Josiah and Night Swan?

8. How does Rocky end up dead?

9. How does a woman help Tayo find the cattle?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is a contrast drawn between Native American spirituality and Christianity, and Christianity doesn't come off very well. Auntie is the only character in the story who represents the white man's religion, and her whole existence is focused on the reputation of the family.

Discuss the reasons the above statement may or may not be valid using illustrations from Auntie’s behavior that is derived from her religion and examples of the medicine man’s behavior that is derived from his spiritual beliefs.

Essay Topic 2

This writer, a Native American herself, is communicating a way her own people can adapt to the changes that have taken place and are taking place in their own world while hanging on to their own identity at the same time.

Discuss at least three ways which Silko advocates can help her people adapt to the changes in their culture while continuing to hold onto their own cultural identity. Use examples from Ceremony to support your response.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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