ANTH 0780 (CRN 35171)
Angela Lockard Reed
Trobrianders Study Questions
Chapter 6
1. How is deference shown to a visiting chief?
2. How are the origins of chiefly lineages different from commoner lineages?
How are they similar?
3. How do chiefly traditions convey attractiveness, health and power?
4. Describe how villages, hamlets, and matrilineages are associated. What kinds of people are found in the same hamlet? What challenges does this pose to the leader of the hamlet?
5. How is a chief like a hamlet leader?
6. Why does a chief have control over more yams than an ordinary hamlet leader has?
7. How does a chief decide on a wife? Describe two ways.
8. How does a chief announce intention to marry?
9. What must a chief demonstrate to acquire wives and support?
10. What power do only the most important chiefs have?
11. Why would a chief admit to sorcery or discuss rain magic?
1. What competitions do chiefs arrange for harvest season? Describe two kinds. What is the goal of competition?
2. How does death affect harvest season?
3. How are banana leaves processed to create skirts and bundles?
4. What is the primary use of banana fiber bundles?
5. Why does a man help his wife acquire banana fiber bundles? What is the relation between banana fiber bundles and yams?
6. How does the need for banana fiber bundles cause people to spend more in stores?
1. Why do women owners display their wealth at mortuary distributions?
2. Describe two kinds of relatives who help women owners by giving them women's wealth at a mortuary distribution. How is that help related to yams?
3. Describe the role of the “wealthy woman” in the mortuary distributions.
4. Who do female owners put skirts on at a mortuary distribution?
5. Female owners form a line at the end of a mortuary distribution, carrying skirts. Where do they carry them? Describe two destinations.
6. How do men participate in the mortuary distribution?
7. How is the mourning concluded for the dead person’s spouse and father?
8. Explain the dual significance of kuwa.
9. What does hard wealth symbolize? What does soft wealth symbolize? When are they distributed at the same time?