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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 happens to Victor's hands?

2. Who are Chess and Checkers?

3. Where does Chess think she and Thomas should search?

4. What does Sheridan say to Checkers in her dream?

5. What does Chess think she sees?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Checkers find when she sneaks out of Thomas' house and goes to the church?

2. What was in the conversation Father Arnold has with the bishop?

3. What does Junior do when the band leaves Big Mom?

4. What do Sheridan and Wright do after talking to the band?

5. What does Victor do at the studio and after they leave?

6. Where does Johnson stay on the reservation, what is his hope and what does Big Mom tell him?

7. What does the band do mostly in Chapter Six and why?

8. How do the members of the band feel when they first see Big Mom and what does she tell Victor?

9. What does Big Mom tell Checkers about Father Arnold and what does Checkers do about it?

10. How does Father Arnold end up going to comfort the band?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an important part of what makes "Reservation Blues" interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Thomas. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Chess. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Junior. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Reservation Blues is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

Junior's dream is horrific in its detail. Wright and Sheridan were actual historical figures involved in the forcing of Native Americans onto reservations. While Wright might seem more compassionate to the Native American viewpoint, Sheridan seems to have no such weakness.

1. Do you think a person might be able to get insight into his/her life through a dream? Use examples from your own life and the text to support your answer.

2. What do you think is the symbolism of Wright and Sheridan in the book? Use examples from your own life and the text to support your answer.

3. What type of conflicts might Wright have had if he felt compassion for the very people he help herd onto reservations? What types of emotional and mental conflicts could he have experienced? Use examples from your own life and the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,134 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample