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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. An accurate description of Lulu's boys would be:

2. June is like Marie in that:

3. Why does Albertine think King and Lipsha don't get along?

4. When Leopolda applies the salve to Marie's burns, Marie sees this as a sign of what?

5. In what way does Albertine cause her mother's downfall?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the motif of coldness suggest in the chapter?

2. Several references in the chapter compare Marie to a fish. What are connotations of these comparisons?

3. Why is Lulu interested in Lipsha Morrisey knowing the truth about his parents?

4. The boat and the waves in the chapter represent what different ideas for Marie and Rushes Bear?

5. What part do the geese play in Nector's meeting with Marie?

6. What is Lulu's attitude toward men?

7. Explain the course of events that leads to Lulu's house burning down.

8. Explain the symbol of the weigh station.

9. What does the motif of effort in chapter 6 reveal about Nector?

10. Why is Albertine's first person narrative necessary to the message of the story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Erdrich often uses animals to symbolize ideas or make connections in her novel. Choose three examples of animals as symbols in Love Medicine, and use them to support a central idea in Erdrich's text. Consider who or what the animals represent, and how Erdrich is using them to communicate a theme or message.

Essay Topic 2

Erdrich's characters honor and betray loyalties to one another throughout the novel. Identify three examples of loyalty or betrayal in the novel, and determine Erdrich's message about either motif in Love Medicine.

Essay Topic 3

Consider the motif of whiteness in Erdrich's novel. What connotations does whiteness carry in people, object, society, situations, etc? What idea is Erdrich revealing about whiteness in her novel? Support your point with specific examples.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 980 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample