Question

In Danticat's The Farming of Bones, even though Kongo does not bury Joel in a coffin or in any funeral clothing, he does do what one thing that is part of his death ritual for Joel?

1) He creates a "death mask"
2) He puts a wooden cross alongside the road as a marker
3) He erects a gravestone in the church's graveyard to honor Joel
4) He repurposes Joel's clothing as a quilt

Answer 1

Kongo honors Joel by placing a wooden cross as a marker, which is a traditional act of respect and mourning in the context of 'The Farming of Bones' by Edwidge Danticat.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Edwidge Danticat's The Farming of Bones, the character Kongo honors the deceased Joel by putting a wooden cross alongside the road as a marker. This act is significant within the context of the novel and the Haitian culture it portrays. While Kongo does not bury Joel in a coffin or provide funeral clothing, the placement of the cross is a solemn gesture affirming Joel's death and marking the location in lieu of a formal gravestone.

This tradition resonates with the aforementioned cultural practices, where various forms of memorials and death rituals signify respect for the departed and acknowledge their transition into another life or state of being.