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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. ____________ father had worked the land for years with little success in doing so.

2. The ___________ lasted for days, during which time they prayed and made offerings at the holy places they came to.

3. Who is Abel's brother, who died many years before the start of the story?

4. Who was once considered the best long race runner in the region?

5. Abel slept with one of ___________ daughter's, even though she dressed and ran away from him when he wanted her again.

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Abel's final memory before leaving to head off to the war to fight?

2. Describe the character of Nicolas teach-whau - who was this women to Abel in this story?

3. What does Abel see as he is looking out over the rim of the Valle Grande?

4. What is the legal result of Abel flipping off the others in the tank, even though they almost run over him?

5. What did Francisco try to teach his grandsons when they were out at the old Campo Santo?

6. What did Francisco do to the bear after he finally tracked him down in the forest and then killed him?

7. What did Francisco tell Abel about the area across the Arroyo Bajo to the edge of the red rock that looked out over the plain?

8. What happens in the memory Abel has of his grandfather calling him as he heard the old men pray?

9. Describe the creature that Tosamah's grandmother had described in a story about a man who set off to find food for his people.

10. What did Ben sign softly as he and Abel sat up on the hill before the final departure of Abel the next day?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The memories that flood back into Abel's mind give the reader a sense of who he was when he was younger, but also a sense of who is is in the present day.

Part 1: Why do you think Momaday decided to write about Abel through the memories he has?

Part 2: Why are memories a good way to get to know someone?

Part 3: Do you think the story would have been stronger if the life story of Abel had been told in a more conventional way? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The initial opening with the trap that did not catch what it was intended to catch seems to be symbolic for the rest of the manuscript.

Part 1: In what way is Abel trapped in this story? Could he have avoided his trap?

Part 2: What other characters might be seen as trapped? Why?

Part 3: What might the symbolic dead body floating down the stream refer to in the story? Who also has been let go? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Abel makes the decision to go off to war, even though he'd never been in an automobile before or seen the world.

Part 1: Why do you think Abel decided to go off to war?

Part 2: What were some of the positive outcomes of Abel's tour in the foreign war?

Part 3: How might Abel's life have been different had he not gone off to fight in the war?

(see the answer keys)

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