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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. Who sets up the appointment for Oceola to meet Mrs. Ellsworth?

2. What point of view is the first section of "The Blues I'm Playing" written in?

3. What does Mrs. Ellsworth buy for Oceola?

4. What does Mrs. Ellsworth rely on to choose protegees?

5. What else does Mrs. Ellsworth insist on doing for Oceola?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Mrs. Ellsworth think that her artist/patron relationship with Oceola cannot be reconciled at the end of the story?

2. What does Mrs. Ellsworth do that is considered inappropriate behavior during her first meeting with Oceola?

3. What does Mrs. Ellsworth enjoy spending her resources on?

4. How did Oceola manage to attend college?

5. What did Oceola's parents do for a living?

6. What information causes Mrs. Ellsworth to become disgruntled after her investigation into Oceola's boarder?

7. What does Oceola think about Mrs. Ellsworth's attitude at the end of the story?

8. How does Mrs. Ellsworth think she will remedy the situation with the boarder?

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

10. How did Oceola learn piano?

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

There are many themes that run through "The Blues I'm Playing," and one of them is irony. Mrs. Ellsworth tries hard to erase Oceola's tendency to improvise jazz music, thinking that this deters her from pure music. What is irony, and how does it play a role in this story? Explore the irony in the fact that Mrs. Ellsworth has many ideas on art but does not play it as well as the fact that Oceola does play, but Mrs. Ellsworth doesn't think she understands it. Make sure you use evidence from the story to support your answer and answer all questions.

Essay Topic 3

"Write what you know" is an old saying that Langston Hughes seems to have followed. His personal background is reflected in "The Blues I'm Playing" in different ways. How does his background influence "The Blues I'm Playing"? What kind of message do you think he relays through this short story, and does it reflect his own ideas? Make sure you answer each question and use examples from the story to support your answer.

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