Kindred by Octavia Butler Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Who is the author of the book Kindred?

Octavia Butler

What two things make Octavia Butler unique?

She is a black woman science fiction writer

What is the setting of Kindred?

Altadena, California 1976 and Maryland 1815

Who is the protagonist in Kindred?

Dana Franklin Signup and view all the answers

What does the word antebellum mean?

The time before the Civil War Signup and view all the answers

Why is Dana Franklin in the hospital at the beginning of the book?

Her arm gets amputated Signup and view all the answers

According to her husband, how long was Dana gone the first time?

10-15 seconds Signup and view all the answers

When she finds Rufus on her second visit, what has he done?

Set the curtains on fire Signup and view all the answers

Explain the title Kindred.

Kin means relatives/family. Kindred means that Dana and her husband are related spiritually. Signup and view all the answers

Why/How does Dana get called to the past, and then called home?

When Rufus's life is in danger, she gets called to the past and when her life is in danger, she goes back to the present. Signup and view all the answers

According to her husband, how long is she gone the second time?

Almost three minutes Signup and view all the answers

How old is Rufus during her first visit?

4 or 5 years old Signup and view all the answers

According to Rufus, how many slaves does his father own?

38 Signup and view all the answers

What do people keep thinking Dana is a man?

She is wearing pants Signup and view all the answers

Who is Hagar Weylin?

Dana's great great grandmother Signup and view all the answers

What is a Patrol?

A white who goes around at night to look for runaway slaves Signup and view all the answers

What does Dana agree to call Rufus?

Mister Rufus Signup and view all the answers

Why/How does Dana know the names and much about several of the people she meets in the past?

A Bible that has the family relatives Signup and view all the answers

All blacks were assumed to be what unless they had what?

Slaves unless they had free papers Signup and view all the answers

When a man is attempting to rape Dana, what is she unable to do to save herself?

Gouge his eyes out Signup and view all the answers

Why is Alice's father nearly whipped to death?

Because he wasn't given permission to leave the plantation Signup and view all the answers

What event causes Dana to return to the present the first time?

She thought she was going to get shot Signup and view all the answers

What causes Dana to return to the present the second time?

The attempted rape by the patroller Signup and view all the answers

What do free blacks need with them at all times?

Free papers Signup and view all the answers

Why was it against the law in some states to teach slaves to read and write?

They could write fake notes and documents Signup and view all the answers

Where/How do Dana and Kevin originally meet?

At work at an auto parts warehouse Signup and view all the answers

Why is Kevin leaving his job?

To be a writer Signup and view all the answers

What has happened to Rufus which calls Dana back this chapter?

Rufus falls out of a tree and breaks his leg Signup and view all the answers

Who is Carrie?

A mute slave girl Signup and view all the answers

Why does Margaret Weylin dislike Dana?

Rufus likes Dana more, she doesn't like educated slaves, and Dana is wearing pants. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Dana get whipped by Tom Weylin in The Fall?

Dana stole books from his library and was teaching Niger how to read and write. Signup and view all the answers

What is different about Dana's trip to the past in The Fall?

Kevin is with her Signup and view all the answers

Where do Kevin and Dana say they're from?

New York Signup and view all the answers

What is Dana and Kevin's supposed relationship?

Slave and slave master Signup and view all the answers

About how old is Rufus in The Fall?

12 years old Signup and view all the answers

Why can't Kevin and Dana simply explain they're married?

It's against the law Signup and view all the answers

Who is Nigel?

Rufus's slave friend Signup and view all the answers

When Tom Weylin first sees Rufus after his fall, what is Tom's main concern?

How much that is going to cost him Signup and view all the answers

What do Dana and the other temporary workers refer to their agency as in 1976?

A slave market Signup and view all the answers

What is the irony of Dana calling the agency a slave market?

In the past she finds out what a real slave market is Signup and view all the answers

What is the age difference between Kevin and Dana?

12 years Signup and view all the answers

How old is Dana?

26 Signup and view all the answers

Why does Dana think the cookhouse is a 'safe place'?

The whites barely go in the cookhouse Signup and view all the answers

What is it that Dana worries about after watching the children play their game?

They are practicing their future without knowing it Signup and view all the answers

What 'game' is it that the children are playing?

Sell the slave Signup and view all the answers

Why does 'Marse Tom' not like Dana according to Sarah?

The way she talks; more educated and she comes from a free state Signup and view all the answers

What happened to all but one of Sarah's children?

They all were sold Signup and view all the answers

What 'job' does Tom Weylin offer to Kevin?

To tutor Rufus Signup and view all the answers

Where is Kevin during The Fight?

Some place north. He left the plantation Signup and view all the answers

Where did Kevin and Dana go to get married?

Las Vegas Signup and view all the answers

How long is Dana at home (present) at the beginning of The Fight before she is called to the past?

8 days Signup and view all the answers

What year is it now in the past?

1824 Signup and view all the answers

About how old is Rufus at the beginning of The Fight?

18 or 19 years old Signup and view all the answers

When Alice and Isaac are captured and returned, what is Alice's punishment?

She gets whipped and sold into slavery Signup and view all the answers

Who owns Alice?

Rufus Signup and view all the answers

What upsetting feeling does Dana experience this time when she returns to the past and gets close to the Weylin house?

She feels like she is at home Signup and view all the answers

Why does Tom Weylin pay a preacher to perform a 'real' wedding for Nigel and Carrie?

They would be less likely to run away and stay on the plantation, and if they had kids, they would be even more likely to stay. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Jake Edwards?

An overseer Signup and view all the answers

Who was the overseer before Jake?

Luke Signup and view all the answers

What is an overseer?

A person who watches over the slaves Signup and view all the answers

What does Rufus ask Dana to speak with Alice about?

For Rufus to have sex with Alice Signup and view all the answers

Who is Liza?

A slave girl who turned Dana in Signup and view all the answers

During The Fight, how long has Dana been separated from Kevin in plantation time?

5 years Signup and view all the answers

Why did Rufus not send Dana's letters to Kevin?

Rufus wanted to keep Dana on the plantation Signup and view all the answers

What event at the end of The Fight sends Dana back to the present?

Rufus was going to shoot Dana and Kevin Signup and view all the answers

How long did Alice and Isaac run away?

4 days Signup and view all the answers

What 'story' do Dana and Rufus give to Tom Weylin to explain Rufus's injuries at the beginning of The Fight?

He met some white men, ended up getting drunk, and they beat him up and robbed him Signup and view all the answers

How do Tom and Rufus learn that Dana is gone?

Liza went and told Tom that Dana was leaving when she left Signup and view all the answers

Why does Dana attempt to escape?

She found out Rufus did not mail her letters to Kevin Signup and view all the answers

Why is Margaret Weylin no longer living at the Weylin plantation?

She had twins, they died, she went crazy and her sister came and took her to Baltimore Signup and view all the answers

Who is Isaac Jackson?

Alice's husband Signup and view all the answers

At the beginning of Storm, Dana and Kevin have returned to the present. How long was Dana gone in present time?

A few hours Signup and view all the answers

How long was Kevin alone in the past in present time?

8 days Signup and view all the answers

How long was Kevin alone in plantation time?

5 years Signup and view all the answers

According to Kevin, the 'Only time I ever...eager to be going to a place' was when?

He was going to go back to the Weylin plantation for Dana Signup and view all the answers

When Dana returns to the past in the storm, is she alone or with Kevin?

Alone Signup and view all the answers

Where does Dana discover Rufus in the Storm?

Face down in a puddle of water Signup and view all the answers

In plantation time, how long has Dana been gone in the Storm?

6 years Signup and view all the answers

Mr. Weylin notices a scab on Dana's face. Where had it come from?

When Mr. Weylin kicked her in the face Signup and view all the answers

What about Dana's clothes does Tom Weylin find offensive?

She is wearing a mini skirt Signup and view all the answers

What is the modern term for 'ague'?

Malaria Signup and view all the answers

When Tom Weylin tells Dana to take care of Rufus, what does he say to 'motivate her'?

If Rufus dies, she dies Signup and view all the answers

Dana shares the same feelings for Rufus as the other slaves. All at the same time they...

Like Rufus, hold him in contempt, and fear him Signup and view all the answers

Alice asks Rufus to free their son. He agrees, but what does he not do?

Put it in writing Signup and view all the answers

When Alice has her baby, what does she name it?

Hagar Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the name Hagar?

Hagar is Dana's great great grandmother Signup and view all the answers

Rufus discovers it's not illegal to do what in Maryland?

Educate slaves Signup and view all the answers

At the end of Storm, what does Rufus do for the first time?

He hits Dana Signup and view all the answers

What triggers Dana's return to the present in the Storm?

She cuts her wrists Signup and view all the answers

How does Tom Weylin die?

By a heart attack Signup and view all the answers

What does Rufus do to punish Dana for his father's death?

Make her work in the field Signup and view all the answers

Why does Rufus tell Dana, 'You let him die' after Tom's death?

Rufus wouldn't understand CPR Signup and view all the answers

How many children has Alice now had with Rufus?

3 Signup and view all the answers

What does Rufus threaten to do if Dana disobeys him?

He was going to send her back to the field Signup and view all the answers

Who is Evan Fowler?

The new overseer Signup and view all the answers

Dana is surprised that Rufus wants her to care for whom?

His mom Signup and view all the answers

What is a coffle?

A group of slaves chained together for sale Signup and view all the answers

When Tess and the others are sold, what reason does Rufus give?

They are his property Signup and view all the answers

What does Rufus mean when he says, 'Behold the woman...you really are only one woman. Did you know that?'

If Dana and Alice were combined it would be the perfect woman Signup and view all the answers

What is Rufus's Christmas present to Alice?

He lets Dana teach Joe to read and write Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Author and Uniqueness

Octavia Butler is the author of "Kindred".
She is a distinctive figure as a black woman writing in the science fiction genre.

Setting

The narrative unfolds in Altadena, California, in 1976, and rural Maryland in 1815.

Protagonist

The main character of the story is Dana Franklin.

Historical Context

The term "antebellum" refers to the period before the American Civil War.
The narrative addresses themes of slavery and its historical implications.

Plot Elements

Dana experiences a traumatic event when her arm is amputated, indicating the physical and emotional toll of her time travel.
Timelines in the past become relevant when her survival is intertwined with the life of Rufus Weylin, who is linked to her ancestry.

Relationships and Characters

Rufus is a complex character whom Dana encounters multiple times, highlighting dynamics of dependency and power.
Hagar Weylin is introduced as Dana's great-great-grandmother, establishing familial connections.
The character of Alice represents the struggles of enslaved women, particularly highlighting her fate during the narrative.

Slavery and Freedom

The importance of "free papers" is emphasized, showcasing the legal restrictions on black individuals during that era.
"Patrols" are discussed as white individuals who policed for runaway slaves, illustrating the dangers faced by enslaved people.

Themes of Control and Obedience

Dana's relationship with Rufus evolves into a complex mix of dependency and resistance against the backdrop of oppression.
Key events highlight Dana's attempts to navigate her situation, including her refusal to accept Rufus's advances and her struggles for autonomy.
The narrative critiques the dynamics of power as demonstrated through various character interactions, including with Kevin, Dana's husband, who faces his own challenges in the past.

Significant Events

A notable instance of threat occurs when Dana is nearly assaulted, emphasizing the ever-present danger she faces.
Throughout her time-travel experiences, Dana frequently returns to the present when her life is in jeopardy, illustrating the perilous balance between her two worlds.

Symbolism and Irony

The irony of Dana calling her job agency a "slave market" is juxtaposed with her experiences in the past, deepening the sense of historical continuity and trauma.
Various characters represent broader societal issues, such as racial prejudice and the complexities of gender dynamics within the context of slavery.

Historical Realities

The laws against educating slaves and the consequences of literacy are critically examined, pointing to the fear of empowerment.
The narrative illustrates the harsh realities of slave life, including brutality and loss, as characters like Alice and her husband Isaac confront dire circumstances.

Conclusion

The ending of the narrative serves as a culmination of both Dana's personal journey and the broader themes of oppression, resilience, and the enduring impact of history on identity.

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Description

Test your knowledge on 'Kindred' by Octavia Butler, exploring its characters, historical context, and major themes. Delve into the complexities of Dana Franklin's journey through time and her relationship with Rufus Weylin. Examine the profound implications of slavery and ancestry in this unique narrative.