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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. The overwrought expression of which emotion causes Bentley's death, according to the narrator?

2. What object belonging to her grandmother does Isis use as a festive outfit for dancing at the carnival?

3. Isis's grandmother allows Isis to go to a hotel with a white couple after they give her how many dollars?

4. In which type of problematic behavior does the white woman at the end of "Drenched in Light" engage?

5. What is the name of the woman whom Beau impregnates in the story entitled "Black Death"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss an instance in the collection when Hurston emphasizes the way in which white people exoticize black people.

2. What contrast between the white culture and the black culture does Hurston highlight within the opening of "Black Death"?

3. For what reason does John leave the house during a storm in the story entitled "John Redding Goes to Sea"?

4. Who is Beau Diddely?

5. Discuss the significance of the final passages included within the story "John Redding Goes to Sea."

6. Describe the way in which the definition of courage is called into question within the story "Spunk."

7. Discuss the significane of the final line of the story entitled "The Conversion of Sam."

8. What does the gate post symbolize within the story entitled "Drenched in Light"?

9. How does Joe Kanty meet his end in the story entitled "Spunk"?

10. What does Spunk's Stetson hat represent within the story entitled "Spunk"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is Hurston's message about the relationship between poverty and racism within the collection Hitting a Straight Lick With a Crooked Stick?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Hurston's decision to include humor within many stories contained within Hitting a Straight Lick With a Crooked Stick. What purpose did Hurston have in mind when including these instances of humor and how does the inclusion of these instances support the overarching themes and messages of each story in which it is used?

Essay Topic 3

Explicate the theme of courage within Hitting a Straight Lick With a Crooked Stick. What is Hurston’s message regarding courage and how do you know?

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