View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Andre's middle name?

2. What does Andre refer to as being "a hell of a drug" in Part Two: "Prepare a Table for Me" (99)?

3. For about how long was Celestial's mother having an affair with her father before they married?

4. How many times does Celestial's father say he proposed to his wife before she said yes?

5. In a letter to Celestial in Part One: "Bridge Music," Roy tells his wife all the things he misses about her. What does he say he misses most?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Mr. Davenport respond when Andre announces his engagement to Celestial?

2. How is Olive's illness and death described?

3. What does Celestial reveal about her departure from Howard University via letter in Part One: "Bridge Music"?

4. How would you characterize the early letters between Roy and Celestial in Part One: "Bridge Music"?

5. Why do you think the author gives Andre his own first-person narrative?

6. Where is Celestial from? How is this setting described?

7. Describe Celestial's "Dear John" letter. When does she send it?

8. Why does Roy write to Mr. Banks in Part One: "Bridge Music"? What does Mr. Banks reply?

9. How does Roy describe Walter when he first becomes his cell mate?

10. How does Andre justify his relationship with Celestial in his first monologue in Part Two: "Prepare a Table for Me"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the symbolism of Old Hickey in the novel. What does the tree represent to Celestial? What does it represent to Andre? Why does Roy attempt to destroy the tree?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Celestial's "Dear John" letter to Roy. Why do you think Celestial did not tell Roy face-to-face that she wanted a divorce? Would her character be more empathetic if she had done so? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the character of Davina Hardrick in the novel. Where does Davina know Roy from? How do they reconnect? In what ways is Davina's character a foil to Celestial? Is Davina a protagonist or antagonist--or neither?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 747 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample