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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 does Selina react when one of her friends confronts her about her relationship with Clive?

2. Who does Selina call for assistance in finding a job at the end of the book?

3. Which of the following is Selina reminded about by the women in white associated with Father Peace?

4. How does Clive respond to Selina's plan to change his life?

5. In Book 4, which of the following does Selina notice when comparing herself to the other girls at the party?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Selina planning to do when she decides to try to help Clive with his art career?

2. What does Selina think about the Association?

3. Why does Selina seclude herself and refuse to go out following her father's death?

4. Why does Selina call her mother "Hitler"?

5. What does Mrs. Benton think about Selina?

6. After Miss Mary dies, Selina dances and laughs with Suggie. What do those actions convey to Selina about herself?

7. What does Selina realize about herself upon going to a party at Beryl's house?

8. What does Clive's relationship with his mother teach Selina about her own relationship with her mother?

9. Does Selina's experience with the Modern Dance Club reinforce Clive's belief that the White people who belong to it are racists?

10. In Book 3, Chapters 8-10, what is the basis that Silla relies on to blame Deighton for the death of their son?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The topic of sexuality appears often throughout the book. How does it relate to Selina's coming of age? Which elements or shifts does Selina experience in her understanding of sexuality as she is growing up? Give an overall time line of Selina's knowledge, and sum up her status by the end of book. Does she have a full understanding of sexuality? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Racism is one of the major themes in Brown Girl, Brownstones. Part 1: Discuss what you know about racism in the early 20th Century, and provide examples from the book that illustrate your points.

Part 2: Compare and contrast how Deighton, Silla, and Selina experience and react to racism.

Essay Topic 3

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?

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