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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 sad thing was said at Hector's funeral in regards to his lack of fear of the white man?

2. What does the narrator say was the best part of Hector's funeral?

3. How does the narrator say Indian's view their worst losses and greatest beauty?

4. When Hector left the last time, how was he to get to his destination?

5. With whom does the narrator live?

Short Essay Questions

1. What type of person does the narrator say Hector was? How old would he be if he were alive? What does the narrator think Hector would be like?

2. Who does the narrator live with? Why do other Indians not judge him for this?

3. Describe the conversation between the narrator and his mother about whether Hector is alive or not.

4. Why does the narrator say people have a tendency to aggrandize the dead?

5. What does the narrator say of the family he has lost, his aunts, uncles, cousins and father and those who are still living in paragraph 2 of "Happy Trails"?

6. What does the narrator's mother say about Indian self help books?

7. What does he say was the saddest thing said about Hector?

8. What was the funniest thing said at Hector's funeral?

9. What does the narrator say was the best part of the funeral?

10. What does the narrator's mother say when he suggests they bury Hector? How does the narrator reply?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The only characters named in the story are Hector and Agnes. Write an essay analyzing why the author chose to name only these two characters. What impact did this have on your reading? How might this choice represent the theme of inherited pain or oppression?

Essay Topic 2

Genre is a category assigned to a literary work, like a novel. What are some genres that could be used to classify "Happy Trails"? What is the main genre of the story? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Define setting and discuss the significance of Alexie's choice of the reservation and cemetery as setting in the story. How is setting used? Why is it important?

(see the answer keys)

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