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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. Where does Ellen celebrate her first Christmas after her mother's death?

2. What has Ellen's mother's absence forced Ellen to obtain for herself?

3. Who does Ellen blame for her mother's death?

4. What item does Ellen's new mama never seem to run out of?

5. How does Ellen refer to her large head?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Ellen wearing her mother's clothes symbolic to the story?

2. How is Ellen's grandmother's removal of Ellen's mother's clothes symbolic to the story?

3. How is Ellen's former life and her new life an example of dualism?

4. How does Ellen's selection of gifts show that Ellen has to take responsibility for herself?

5. At the funeral, why does Ellen avoid looking at her mother's grave?

6. In what ways does Ellen justify not telling anyone about the circumstances of her mother's death?

7. How is Ellen's obsessive side shown in Chapter 6?

8. Why does Ellen feel that her relatives are phonies?

9. Why does Ellen choose Starletta's parents when asked by the school board if Ellen has someone to take care of her?

10. How does the fact that Ellen is concerned with snakes in her new life hint at how she feels about the members of her family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In two instances of the story Ellen describes her Christmas celebrations. Compare and contrast the two occasions using details from the text as an aid.

Essay Topic 2

Using the text and class discussions as an aid describe some of Ellen's fears and how she overcame them.

Essay Topic 3

Using class discussion and the text as an aid describe some of Ellen's extended family relationships. Is there a closeness between the family? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 568 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample