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Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. About what does Joe ask Shorty?
2. What does Chandler have to do with Seattle?
3. Who does Joe find at the trading post?
4. What is the systems theory?
5. Where is Sherman?
Short Essay Questions
1. The fact that Sherman survives the shooting by Joanna could have several implications; name one of them.
2. What story does Shorty tell that is the motivation for the setting moving to the floor of the Grand Canyon?
3. What seems to be a likely foreshadowing of a coming event?
4. Why do you think the discussion of Kiva and Native American rites are included in Chapter 8?
5. How does Hillerman use the story of the cat in Chapter 6 for more than one purpose?
6. How is the story about Cat an allegory for what Chee has encountered in his life?
7. Why do you think Hillerman introduces a character, Louisa Berbonette, in Chapter 5, who plays no part in the rest of the story?
8. How does Sam Pinto illustrate Joe's theory by enumerating a theoretical series of events?
9. In a mystery, every sentence offers clues, either about the case or about the characters that are part of the case; what does the reader learn early on about Joe Leaphorn from one sentence?
10. What allusion to the allegory of Cat story is contained in Chapter 13?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
In Chapter 8, Billy Tuve is asked about his Kiva initiation rites, which he describes in the Hopi language to the other Hopi who is there, Cowboy Dashee, though even Cowboy cannot hear the entire story since he is of a different Kiva from Billy. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:
1. Research some common Native American rites or initiation ceremonies and describe them and give your thoughts about them.
2. What do you think is the purpose of secret societies which have initiation rites for those who want to be a part of the society? (consider such groups as the Free masons, Eastern Star, etc.). Describe one such group, their purpose, and how one becomes a member. Would you consider joining a secret society? Why?
3. How have secret societies influenced the way of life in the United States? (Consider such groups as the KKK, Black Panthers, the Communist party, etc.)
Essay Topic 2
In Chapter 2, Joe reflects on his boredom since retirement, upon the idea of mortality, and at having lost some many friends to that mortality. Choose one of the following and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:
1. What do you think are the causes of Joe's boredom? Do you think he is so one-sided that he cannot find other things that interest him besides police work? Do you think that is psychologically healthy? Do you know of anyone who after retiring seems to mope around and is bored? Explain their situation. What would you say to them? Would you say the same to Joe?
2. The old Shaman man seems to never have retired from his "job" as Shaman--not until he dies. The Shaman is what is job is--in other words, if you ask him who he is, he might reply "I am the Shaman for the tribe." If you ask him what he does, he would probably say the same thing. Western culture tends to separate who one is with what one does; whereas, aboriginal cultures blur the boundaries more. Compare and contrast the two ways of identification. State possible advantages and disadvantages of both ways.
3. It is an oft-recorded phenomenon that some men (and occasionally women) will retire and then die fairly soon thereafter, even if they are healthy when they retire. Discuss this idea fully giving your thoughts about it as well as researching the idea and presenting what experts say.
Essay Topic 3
Chandler and Plymale are the personification of greed and cruelty, as well as icons of the worst attributes of the white men who imposed their values on the peaceful Navajo and Hopi as seen in their conversation in chapter 4. Each character is a one-dimensional personification of a single human characteristic or passion. While this device might be criticized in other works, Hillerman does a good job of using it to support his theme of cultural contrast between western and Native American societies. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:
1. Discuss the literary technique of personification. How is it used? When is it appropriate? What is the purpose in general of personification? Do you find it to be an effective technique?
2. Show how Chandler and Plymale are personified. Does this hamper their being believable characters? Does either character ever break the boundaries of personification? How? When? Be specific.
3. What other characters could be considered personifications or archetypes? Consider both major and minor characters. Give examples and include why you think the personification is effective or not. Could Hillerman's point be made some other way?
This section contains 1,715 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) |
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