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Quizzes > Books & Literature

The Medicine Bag Quiz: Heritage, Identity, and Story Insight

Quick quiz on themes and symbols. Instant results with medicine bag questions and answers.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Linda GlennUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art showing medicine bag with heritage symbols and identity motifs on golden yellow background

This quiz helps you review The Medicine Bag by checking plot, characters, and the themes of heritage and identity. Answer multiple-choice questions, see where you are strong, and spot gaps before class. If you enjoy exploring traditions around healing, try our herbal medicine quiz and our herbs and healing quiz for a different perspective on symbols and practices.

Who is the author of "The Medicine Bag"?
Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
Leslie Marmon Silko
Sherman Alexie
Louise Erdrich
Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve wrote "The Medicine Bag," a short story first published in 1978 about cultural heritage and family bonds. This work has often been included in educational anthologies to illustrate themes of identity and tradition. For further reading, see .
What does the medicine bag symbolize in the story?
A symbol of the family's cultural heritage
A school textbook storage
A mere fashion accessory
A container for medical supplies
In the story, the medicine bag represents the family's Native American heritage and the continuity of tradition across generations. It carries items passed down to signify identity and spiritual strength. For more insight, see .
What is the name of the young boy in "The Medicine Bag"?
Martin
Michael
Matthew
Mark
The protagonist of the story is named Martin, a city boy who initially feels embarrassed by his grandfather's traditional ways. His journey toward understanding his heritage is central to the narrative. For additional context, see .
In which city does Martin live with his parents at the start of the story?
Chicago
Minneapolis
St. Louis
Omaha
Martin and his parents live in St. Louis when Grandpa comes to visit, which highlights the urban versus reservation life contrast. This setting underlines Martin's distance from his cultural roots. See more at .
Why does Grandpa bring the medicine bag to Martin's home?
Because he plans to sell it
Because his health is failing and he wants Martin to keep it
Because Martin's mother requested it
Because it got lost on the reservation
Grandpa visits Martin to pass on the medicine bag as he grows too old to carry it himself. This transfer is both a rite of passage and a responsibility for Martin. For a detailed analysis, see .
How does Martin initially feel about Grandpa's arrival with traditional clothes and customs?
Embarrassed
Excited
Hostile
Indifferent
Martin feels embarrassed by Grandpa's traditional attire and customs because he worries about fitting in with his city friends. His feelings evolve as he learns the bag's significance. More info at .
Which of the following items is NOT contained in the medicine bag Grandpa gives Martin?
A bit of sage
An eagle feather
A small photograph of Grandpa
A piece of sweetgrass
The medicine bag holds sage, sweetgrass, and an eagle feather, but it does not include any photographs. The omission highlights that the bag's power lies in natural and spiritual items. For more, see .
Which theme is most prominent in "The Medicine Bag"?
Cultural identity and heritage
Survival adventure
Scientific discovery
Romantic love
The story centers on Martin's growing appreciation for his Native American heritage, symbolized by the medicine bag. Themes of identity, respect, and family tradition are woven throughout. Read more at .
Which literary device best describes the medicine bag's representation of cultural continuity?
Irony
Personification
Onomatopoeia
Symbolism
The medicine bag is a symbol that represents the continuity of cultural traditions and family history. It stands for ideas beyond its physical form. Learn more about symbolism at .
How does the author contrast city life and reservation life in the story?
By comparing weather differences
By depicting city pollution against reservation waters
By emphasizing sports preferences
By showing Martin's initial embarrassment versus Grandpa's comfort in traditional ways
The contrast is highlighted through Martin's discomfort with Grandpa's traditions in the city compared to Grandpa's ease on the reservation. This underscores the cultural gap Martin must bridge. For deeper analysis, see .
Which literary technique is used when Grandpa recounts events from his youth?
Flashback
Foreshadowing
Oxymoron
Alliteration
Grandpa's recollection of his earlier life is a flashback, a device that provides background and builds emotional depth. It helps readers understand the bag's importance. More on flashbacks at .
What is the deeper significance of the medicine bag transfer ritual in the context of Native American traditions?
It represents a legal transfer of property
It serves as a commercial trade agreement
It is merely a decorative family heirloom
It symbolizes the passing of spiritual responsibility and identity across generations
The ritual transfer of the medicine bag signifies a sacred passing of spiritual duty, cultural heritage, and family identity from one generation to the next. It underscores respect for ancestors and continuity of belief systems. Learn more at .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Heritage and Identity Themes -

    Gain a clear grasp of how Sneve explores family heritage and cultural identity through the narrative of "The Medicine Bag."

  2. Analyze Character Motivations -

    Examine the relationships and motivations of key characters to see how personal values influence their actions.

  3. Apply Quiz Strategies -

    Use proven techniques to tackle medicine bag MCQ questions efficiently and improve overall test performance.

  4. Evaluate Knowledge with PDF Answers -

    Validate your responses against the medicine bag questions and answers PDF to identify strengths and areas for review.

  5. Navigate the Medicine Bag Quiz -

    Familiarize yourself with the structure and format of the medicine bag quiz to complete it confidently.

  6. Reflect on Cultural Significance -

    Draw connections between the story's cultural context and your own experiences for deeper insight.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Heritage and Identity Themes -

    Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve's story centers on Grandpa's medicine bag as a vessel of family legacy and self-discovery, highlighting how personal artifacts embody communal roots (University of Minnesota Cultural Studies). For best results, download the primary resource, the medicine bag questions and answers PDF, and apply the "HIS" mnemonic - Heritage, Identity, Symbols - to link artifacts with character growth. Pay attention to Grandpa's reflections in key passages to see how heritage shapes his grandson's sense of self.

  2. Object Symbolism in Literature -

    Academic journals like the Journal of Literary Symbols note that physical objects often carry deeper emotional and cultural meanings; in this story, the bag, its contents, and Grandpa's war medal each mark pivotal character shifts. When tackling medicine bag MCQ questions, identify these objects and link them to themes like sacrifice and legacy. Practice by mapping each symbol to a corresponding theme in the medicine bag study guide for clear, concise answers.

  3. Narrative Perspective and Voice -

    Purdue OWL emphasizes that first-person narration builds intimacy and reliability, and Sneve's use of a young narrator offers fresh insight into cross-generational relationships. Note how the grandson's viewpoint evolves as he learns family history, and consider this when taking the medicine bag quiz. Highlight opinion-based language - "I felt," "I realized" - to track emotional development.

  4. Generational Relationships & Character Development -

    Research in Educational Psychology Review shows that intergenerational bonds enrich character arcs; Grandpa's quiet strength contrasts with his grandson's youthful uncertainty. Use the "G-R-A-M" acronym - Generation, Respect, Advice, Memories - to structure theme-based answers in your medicine bag study guide. Analyze dialogue samples to see how respect and advice evolve between the characters.

  5. Effective MCQ Strategies -

    According to the University Test Prep Center, mastering multiple choice questions involves skimming the question stem, using process of elimination, and confirming context clues. Apply these to the medicine bag MCQ questions by underlining key terms and comparing options against story events. Download the medicine bag questions and answers PDF for timed practice and track your progress with answer explanations.

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