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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. How do the other boys feel when Camara puts Marie on his bicycle?

2. What does Camara's father's second wife hold up as a symbol for Camara during the circumcision ceremony?

3. Who is Mamadou?

4. Where do Camara and his two friends show up after disappearing for awhile?

5. How long will the boys stay in a special hut after the circumcision?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens towards the middle of the night when the initial procession around town finishes?

2. Camara does not like one of the behaviors his mother exhibits when he gets back home for vacation? Which behavior?

3. At the end of Camara's third year of school, he takes his proficiency examinations. Describe what happens.

4. Describe the character of Camara's mother.

5. Who or what is Konden Diara? What does Camara's father tell him to do?

6. How do Camara and Marie spend time together as teenagers?

7. Following their encounter with Konden Diara, the young boys face the real test of circumcision. How does the ceremony in Kouroussa proceed?

8. When Camara returns to Conakry in October, what does he find out about the Technical College, the school he attended the year before?

9. What does Camara receive from his parents before he leaves home for Conakry?

10. What happens when Camara and his father go to talk to Camara's mother again, hoping to convince her to let Camara finish his studies in Paris?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The character of the praise-singer is mentioned in a few chapters of the "The Dark Child." What is a praise-singer? What is his role towards the community? When is he important? Explore his presence throughout the book; describe his tasks, influence and attitude. Compare/contrast his appearances in the different chapters.

Essay Topic 2

"The Dark Child" is an autobiographical novel. How do you know this? Prove that the book is this kind of genre with supporting evidence gathered from the novel. What is the author's writing style? How does he relate the stories and the characters to himself? Give examples.

Essay Topic 3

Describe Camara's transition from childhood to manhood. How does this manifest in the book? How does this transition affect his position in his family? Give supporting evidence from the chapter. How does this transition further the plot? What is the author trying to point out with this episode? How has the character of Camara changed? How does his transition affect his mother?

(see the answer keys)

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