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. Who tells Bone that Glen is "pure crazy where your mama's concerned"?

2. Where is Mama working when she meets her second husband?

3. How old is Mama when Bone was born?

4. Where does Aunt Carr live?

5. According to Earle, every third family in Greenville County swears it's what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Bone create games like the "Dalton Girls" and the "Mean Sisters"?

2. What does the love knot that the great-aunts make for Mama and Glen symbolize?

3. Why does Glen come to Alma's house?

4. How does Bone's relationship with Earle and Grey change after Alma's breakdown?

5. Aunt Ruth tells Mama that she looks like a Boatwright after Lyle dies. What does she mean by that?

6. Why is Bone drawn to Shannon Pearl?

7. The first time Mama leaves Glen is for two weeks. What makes her decide to return?

8. Why does Bone try to scare Reese against hitchhiking while at the same time doing it herself?

9. How is Aunt Raylene different from her sisters?

10. Why does Bone begin looking at herself in mirrors?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Read the quote by James Baldwin at the beginning of the book. Discuss in detail how this applies to "Bastard Out of Carolina."

Essay Topic 2

Both Bone and Shannon Pearl go through periods where they tell horrific tales fulls of violence. Compare and contrast the stories that each girl tells and their reasons for creating these stories.

Essay Topic 3

When Ruth dies, Mama cries that Ruth's worth was measured by having babies and that Mama's love was never enough for Ruth. Is Bone's love enough for Mama? Why or why not? Explain your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 736 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample