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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Poem Eleven, how does the narrator describe her current universe at the end of the poem?

2. Who does the main character in Poem Eighteen speak with in the poem?

3. Who takes the "stuff" in Poem Seventeen?

4. What is the title of Poem Eighteen?

5. How does the narrator in Poem Fifteen describe the group that she thinks black women should become like?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The play is about discovering joy, power, and freedom. How do the characters try to discover these things? What journey do they have to take to overcome oppression and repression? Please use examples from the book to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Poem nineteen, "A Nite with Beau Wille Brown," is a longer narrative than many of the other poems in the play. Why do you think Shange chose to make this poem a longer narrative than the others in the play? How else does this poem differ from the others in the play? Please use examples from the book to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Based on the play, why is freedom a major theme? How does the playwright express the theme of freedom through the characters? Please use specific examples from the book.

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