Name ____________________________ Class ________ Date ______
Language Arts 10
Reading Comprehension
Score ________
WS 9
from Sundiata - An Epic of Old Mali
Directions: Read pages 521 – 533 in the textbook. Answer the following items with complete
sentences and proper grammar/punctuation.
1. How ae Mari Djata (Sundiata) and his family mistreated after his father dies?
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2. How does Mari Djata avenge his mother’s humiliation at the hands of jealous
Sassouma?
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3. What is the outcome of the conflict between Sundiata and the scorcerer-king
Soumaoaro?
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4. What does Sosso look like before the battle of Krina? What does it look like afterward?
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5. The incident in which Mari Djata begins to walk reveals a great deal about his
character. From that incident, what can you infer about Sundiata’s sense of justice?
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What does the incident reveal about his physical strength and determination?
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6. Three brief songs occur in the excerpt from “The Lion’s Awakening.” What events do
these songs accompany? What purpose do you think these songs serve in the
narrative?
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7. An exchange of boasts before battle, like Sundiata and Soumaoro’s dialogue, occurs
frequently in epics. Scholars think that “Sundiata” was often performed for the
Mandingo army before battles. What effect do you think the boastful exchange might
have had on such an audience?
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8. Why do you think Sundiata chose to destroy the city of Sosso rather than make it part
of his kingdom?
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9. An epic, with its blend of history and legend, reflects a society’s values. Based on your
reading of these excerpts from “Sundiata,” what values do you think were honored by
the Mandingo culture? Can you tell what kinds of behaviors the culture despised?
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10. “Sundiata” like many epics, glorifies war. War is depicted as colorful, exciting, and
glorious. Explain how modern views of war are similar to those expressed in
“Sundiata” and how they are different.
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