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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. What does Mrs. Ellsworth buy for Oceola?

2. How many children does Mrs. Ellsworth have?

3. What does Mrs. Ellsworth think of Oceola's piano playing during their first meeting?

4. Who had a band in Oceola's family?

5. How does Oceola receive Mrs. Ellsworth's help?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Oceola support herself before she met Mrs. Ellsworth?

2. Why does Mrs. Ellsworth decide to do these things for Oceola?

3. What does Mrs. Ellsworth provide Oceola with during the beginning of their artist/patron relationship?

4. What does Mrs. Ellsworth think about Oceola's situation with the boarder?

5. What does Oceola continue to do that Mrs. Ellsworth does not approve of?

6. How does Mrs. Ellsworth react to Oceola's news at the end of Section 4 of the story?

7. Describe Mrs. Ellsworth.

8. Why is Oceola reluctant to meet with Mrs. Ellsworth?

9. Describe the setting of "The Blues I'm Playing."

10. What does Oceola find in Paris?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mrs. Ellsworth is one of the main characters of "The Blues I'm Playing." Describe her background and explore how her passion for art may be related to her background. Why does Mrs. Ellsworth spend so much of her time and resources? Why has she lost interest in her own life? Make sure you answer each question and use examples from the story to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Art, specifically music, is the center of this short story. All the characters are connected to art in some form, but Mrs. Ellsworth and Oceola both devote their lives to it. What does Mrs. Ellsworth think of art? What kind of belief does she wish to instill in Oceola? How does Oceola view art? What are the differences in the characters' perceptions of art? Make sure you answer each part of the question and use examples from the story to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Various characters add different shades of complexity to "The Blues I'm Playing." They all provide something worth analyzing in the context of the main events of the plot as well as their influence on the main characters. Choose a character from the story other than Mrs. Ellsworth and Oceola, and explore their influence on the main characters (Oceola and Mrs. Ellsworth). How has this character affected Mrs. Ellsworth and/or Oceola? How does this character influence the events of the story?

(see the answer keys)

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