ANTH 0780 (CRN 35171)

Angela Lockard Reed

Parallel Worlds Study Questions

Chapter 7

1.  How did Lamine become a diviner?

2.  Who is responsible for arranging a woman’s marriage?

3.  How is the advice that Mo’kissi and Domolo should have children different from our own culture?

4.  Why did Kwamla Chakro think Alma’s parents were important people?  How did this affect Alma’s interpretation of Mo’kissi’s statement about her husband?

5.  Two trials were held regarding the divination conducted by Lamine about the sacrifice of a chicken.  Briefly describe these trials.  What did Alma learn about the ultimate aim of this Beng trial?  Do you think this is the case for all Beng trials?

6.  What is waleh gobang used for?

7.  Describe Apisé’s funeral.  Why was there a lot of celebration at her funeral?

8.  What was the village elders’ explanation for trucks getting stuck on the road?

Chapter 8

1.  What was Yacouba’s explanation for Félice’s inability to walk by age 3?

2.  Why was Félice given a special funeral?  What was it called?  Why were Alma and some other women excluded from some of the rituals?

3.  What is wurugbé?  Where is it located?  How might it affect the daily lives of people?

4.  Describe Kobla’s trial, the reasons for it, and the outcome.

5.  What did Kwamla make for Philip and Alma?  How must it be applied and used?  What is it for?

6.  What did Amenan say the best times for sex were?  Why?

7.  What is Anayaa?

8.  What happened to Philip on his trip to Ndogbé with Kona, and why?

Chapter 9

1.  How were national elections for President conducted?

2.  Explain why house structure was changed from large and round to small and rectangular.  Besides house shape, what else was affected?

3.  Why is it considered dangerous to travel at night?  Who travels at night?

4.  An epidemic of Guinea worm hit the village of Kosangbé.  What did the diviner recommend?

5.  Why are bats considered stupid?

6.  What lesson did Alma learn about being Beng?

7.  Why did Amenan’s mother say that Amenan was not her real daughter?

8.  What type of marriage is considered incest to the Beng?

9.  Describe how Philip and Alma’s feelings as they returned to New York could be viewed as a kind of culture shock.