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

2. For how long does Andre say he and Celeste have spent as partners in life in his first narrative in Part Two: "Prepare a Table for Me"?

3. What is Gloria's middle name?

4. Where does Uncle Banks describe meeting Celestial's father in Part One: "Bridge Music"?

5. What is the name of the street where Andre and Celestial grew up?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What happened on Roy and Celestial's first anniversary?

4. What is revealed to the reader through the epistolary form in Part One: "Bridge Music"?

5. Where did Roy study? What career does he set out on after college?

6. Why does Roy write to "Mr. D" in Part One: "Bridge Music"?

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

8. How does Andre propose to Celestial?

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

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

Analyze and discuss the character or Andre in An American Marriage. For how long has Andre known Celestial and Roy? Where did Andre study and what does he do? What characteristics set Andre apart in this novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the element of setting in An American Marriage. Why is the setting of this story important? Could this novel take place anywhere else? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the character of Celestial in An American Marriage. What does Celestial do for a living? Where was she educated? For how long is she married to Roy before Roy's arrest? How does Celestial's character evolve in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 768 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample