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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 is the Barbados island religion called?

2. In Book 1, Chapter 3, why does the other man think that Deighton will not make money at his latest venture?

3. In Book 3, how does Silla carry out her plan to get money for a house?

4. What type of mood does Silla have on that Monday morning as Deighton is leaving to go to the bank to cash his check?

5. How old is Selina at the opening of the book?

Short Essay Questions

1. What wish does Selina make on her 15th birthday; and why does she regret it?

2. In Book 1, Chapter 3, why does Selina worry about her mother?

3. Why is Selina uncomfortable in Book 2 when she sees the couple making out in the park ?

4. How does Deighton respond to the racism that he encounters while applying for accounting jobs?

5. In Book 2, while her parents argue about the land in Barbados, what do Selina's daydreams focus upon?

6. In Book 1, why does Deighton want to keep the fact that he has inherited land as a surprise?

7. What is Selina's relationship with her mother like?

8. How do Deighton's actions support Silla's annoyances with him?

9. How do Selina's daydreams about Barbados differ from her mother's memories?

10. What is the main problem in Silla's and Deighton's marriage?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Marriage was considered to be one of the few options for a young woman in the early 20th Century. Look at each moment in the novel when marriage is mentioned, or when a wedding takes place. Describe the connotations about marriage. What kind of viewpoints does Selina develop about marriage based on each of those situations?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the characters of Selina with that of Antigone - the main character in the Greek tragedy by Sophocles. What is the author's purpose in using such allusion?

Essay Topic 3

Literary critics and scholars differ in their views of whether an author's own life should be considered in the study of a piece of literature. What are your views on this question given what you know about Paule Marshall's life and the story she depicts in Brown Girl, Brownstones? Do you think that her own life is relevant? Or not? Can the book be appreciated for its own merits even if you are not familiar with any aspect of the author's life? Does knowing something about her life increase your understanding of the novel?

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This section contains 800 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample