View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who gave Morris his Ojibwe name?

2. What does Shawnee dream of when the fire starts?

3. Who is Morris’ sister-in-law?

4. Who does Bernard promise to teach the drum’s songs to?

5. What is Morris’ distinctive physical feature?

Short Essay Questions

1. Which of Ira’s possessions survives the fire, and why?

2. What happened to Bernard’s family?

3. What is John’s attitude towards Ira?

4. Why is Bernard suspicious of Ira when she arrives?

5. Why does Morris apologize to Ira?

6. Why is Shawnee angry at her mother?

7. Why does Morris fall in love with Ira?

8. Why does Ira kiss Morris?

9. Why is Ira worried when she talks to Seraphine?

10. Why are Shawnee and her brother fighting?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Consider the unusual relationship and friendship between Faye and Elsie. How is theirs different from other parent-child relationships portrayed in the novel? Is it healthier, or unhealthy in different ways? What does each bring to the relationship?

Essay Topic 2

How does the painted drum ultimately bring Bernard’s community back together? What did its loss symbolize to the people, and what have they gained through its restoration? Why do you think it needed to be returned before the community could fully reconnect?

Essay Topic 3

Consider the author’s choice to use multiple point of view characters, with some points of view being framed as a story. Why did the author choose to tell the story of the drum this way? How do the multiple points of view contribute to the story’s themes?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 635 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample