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

Short Answer Questions

1. Why is Sethe angry at Paul D?

2. How long is it since Paul D and Sethe last saw each other?

3. Who do Sethe and Paul meet on the road when they are heading back to 124?

4. Who does Sethe think about after she has sex with Paul D?

5. Who gave Sethe her diamond earrings?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do you think Baby Suggs meant by giving up the war?

2. Why does Paul call his tobacco tin his heart?

3. Why does Denver think that Beloved hates Paul D?

4. Why do you think the town is so angry at Sethe?

5. Why do you think Paul D says it is a bad idea for an ex-slave to love his children so much?

6. Why does Denver not want Sethe to undo her braids?

7. Why does Denver ask Beloved if she saw Jesus?

8. Why is Sethe angry at Paul D for casting the ghost out of her house?

9. Why does Paul question his manhood?

10. Why was Sethe so angry about the boys taking her milk?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Paul D notices that Beloved desires someone in the house, but knows it is not him. What do you think Paul D's feelings are for Beloved? Does he want to have a sexual relationship with her?

Essay Topic 2

Paul D, Sethe, and Denver spend a day at the carnival set aside for black people. They enjoy it because they get to laugh at white people.

1) What would you think of white people if you were a black person during this time? Would you hide your feelings?

2) Think about if you were white. How difficult would it be to form a decent opinion of black people when society went out of its way to dehumanize them? Do you think white people's upbringings conditioned them to treat black people so badly?

Essay Topic 3

Look at the historical setting of the novel.

1) What were the rights of the ex-slaves? Were their lives any better? What kind of jobs did they get?

2) Was slavery completely abolished at this time?

(see the answer keys)

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