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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 was Charlie's job in London?

2. What type of shorts does Dick wear?

3. About what do Dick and Mary fight?

4. About what does Mary pick up a pamphlet?

5. How does Samson's situation change?

Short Essay Questions

1. What were the two happy times during Mary's childhood?

2. How do the man's remarks at the station change Mary's perception of Dick?

3. How does Mary's perspective on her new life change?

4. Of what is every white woman in South Africa brought up to be afraid?

5. Describe the stores in South Africa and their symbolism.

6. Describe the the Slatters' visit to the Turner farm.

7. What did people in Lobengula's kingdom do when they commit a crime? What is the custom for talking about African history?

8. How does Mary feel as she and Dick pull up to the farm?

9. When and why was Mary so fortunate? How did she feel about her good fortune?

10. How does Marston feel about the murder? How does he feel about the way Slatter and the Sergeant talk to him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay that describes the parenting done by characters in the novel and how it influences them and other characters. Examples include Mary's bad parents damaging her ability to relate to others, or Charlie Slatter's jealousy towards the privileges of his children.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay on the power relationship between Mary and Moses. Be sure to address:

1) How the relationship changes throughout the novel.

2) How Moses exercises power over Mary.

3) The greater themes and implications of the power relationship between Mary and Moses.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay explaining the role of social pressure, social norms, social status, and social life in THE GRASS IS SINGING. Be sure to address how these factors influence characters throughout the story with evidence from the text.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 907 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample