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AFRICAN LITERATURE: Final Exam Review

Topics & Skills Covered

Events and characters from Copper Sun and Things Fall Apart.
Vocabulary!
o Be able to identify and use vocabulary words. You should know the definitions, be able to use the words
with sentence stems, and write your own original sentences that demonstrate your understanding of the
word.
Parts of Speech
o Be able to identify if something is a noun, verb, adjective or adverb.
Literary Elements/Devices (including poetic devices)

o Motif o THEME
o Characterization o Symbolism
o Tragic hero (all vocabulary associated o Dynamic/Static characters
with this topic) o Conflict

Thematic Essay on Copper Sun

What is the format of the exam?

The exam will include the following sections: Multiple choice, vocabulary fill-in-the-blank, creating your own
sentences, parts of speech, and a thematic essay.

How can I study for this exam?

Look over all of your notes! Especially those about colonialism, the tragic hero, parts of speech and any literary
elements.
Review the major characters and events from Things Fall Apart and Copper Sun.
Review all old quizzes to review vocabulary words and events/plot/characters from the novels we read this
semester.
Practice defining and using the vocabulary words. You should know their definition as well as how they can be
used in sentences.
Review how to write a thematic essay. Be sure you can accurately identify and discuss THEME.
Look through your copies of Copper Sun, become familiar with it. You will need to use text evidence for your
thematic essays!
Use the back of this sheet to record notes/info! This can be your study guide.

NOTES:
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Practice Guide (PARTS OF SPEECH):

Identify the adjectives in the following sentences: Identify the adverbs in the following sentences:

1. The motorcycle is old. 1. Jonas usually does his homework.

2. Ms. Hunter is a good basketball player. 2. The fire spread rapidly.
3. City College is a great place to learn. 3. He carried the bowl of soup very carefully.
4. The job was difficult, but manageable. 4. When will be finally be done?
5. The house has new plumbing and running water 5. He seldom did poorly on tests.

Identify the verbs in the following sentences: Identify the nouns in the following sentences:

1. The tennis player is going to hit the ball. 1. The car is old and is missing one door.
2. I do not know if I should go to the party tonight. 2. Excitement is in the air.
3. The first car couldn't have avoided hitting the 3. Timothy, Joe, and Art are by best friends.
second car. 4. Is it time to go yet?
4. The woman is a fine painter. 5. Yesterday was the coldest day of the year.
5. The woman painted a beautiful picture.
Practice Guide (THEME): Come up with a theme statement for the following stories

Grant Grand was a superstar high school athlete from a small town where football was revered. The people of this
town placed such a high value on victories that a top performer like Grant was given privileges and exceptions that
all others were denied. Grant did not have to struggle his way through rigorous courses in high school. Instead he
attended special study sessions with members of the athletic department where the participants studied little other
than football. To the surprise of few, Grant was given a full ride to a reputable university based on his athletic
prowess, but Grant was not prepared for this new experience. He expected the university to make numerous
special exceptions for him as his high school had, and while he did receive quite a few of these exceptions, it was
not enough to compensate for how woefully underprepared he was. Despite numerous good faith interventions by
the university, Grant failed to get it together, lost his scholarship, and dropped out after his freshman year.
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Tommy wanted a skateboard badly. Sometimes he would stay after school just to watch the older boys do tricks on the
stairs. Tommy thought that it looked like so much fun to grind down rails and kickflip over gaps. He imagined performing
jaw-dropping tricks on the various landmarks he passed on his way home. After months of saving money and begging his
grandma, Tommy finally got a skateboard. With a beaming grin across his face, Tommy ran out to his driveway and
attempted one of the tricks that he had often imagined himself performing. As Tommy put his first foot on his
skateboard, the skateboard slid out from under him and Tommy fell on his butt. He broke out into tears. That was the last
time that Tommy rode a skateboard.
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