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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. How do you think Johnny-Boy feels about his mother?

2. What does the sheriff tell Sue?

3. What does Sue tell the Sheriff about the meeting?

4. What does Sue do to ignore her fears?

5. What does Sue tell Johnny-Boy about the meeting?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Reva tell Sue?

2. Who does Sue hear coming in shortly after she finishes her ironing and what does she feel?

3. What does the sheriff do when Sue doesn't respond to his second request?

4. What does Sue think about her sons?

5. What does the sheriff ask her about the meeting and what does he threaten?

6. What does Johnny-Boy tell his mother about how he sees people?

7. What does Booker tell Sue about the sheriff and Johnny-Boy?

8. What does Sue do after she finishes her ironing?

9. What does the sheriff tell Sue and how does she respond?

10. What happens to Sue first in the kitchen when she confronts who is in her house?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sue's life thus far has been punctuated by untimely losses; the tragic death of her mother, the untimely death of her husband and Sug's recent incarceration have all combined to essentially strip away everyone that is important to her, except Johnny-Boy.

1. What do you think would be the normal reaction to so much loss in life? Use examples support your answer.

2. Thinking about your life, your parents, siblings and friends, how would your life change if you had lost at least three of those people?

3. Discuss a death you have had in your life or in the life of someone you know.

Essay Topic 2

While it may seem inconceivable for a mother to stand by and watch her son be tortured, Sue knows that the emotional pain her son would feel if the other members of the party were seized would be far greater. And so, out of love for her son, she stands quietly by and does not respond to the sheriff's demands.

1. Do you think Sue was right or wrong to worry about her son's emotional pain? Why or why not?

2. How does Sue demonstrate her strength as she stands by while her son is tortured?

3. Do you think you could have done what Sue did? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Sue finally decides to go to the woods with a white sheet to retrieve her son's body.

1. What do you think the white sheet symbolizes in the story?

2. How do you think your mother or father would react in Sue's situation?

3. Why do you think Sue believes her son is dead? Does it seem morbid for a mother to go find her son with a sheet to wrap around his body? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 856 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample