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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 gesture does Isis make that serves to "heap kindling on" her grandmother's "already burning ire" (75)?

2. Near the end of the story "Magnolia Flower," it is stated that John and Magnolia Flower had gotten married how many years before?

3. Which unpaid bill leads Mr. Bronner to fire Sam?

4. In what way is Alfred related to John?

5. In what type of vehicle is Isis nearly transported safely past her family's home?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the symbolism of the tablecloth featured in the story "Drenched in Light"?

2. In what way is Hurston a bit of an anomaly within the literary movement with which she is associated?

3. Describe the end of Bentley's life.

4. Discuss the purpose behind Hurston's use of a frame structure to present the story entitled "Magnolia Flower."

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

6. What does the young disabled man featured in "A Bit of Harlem" say his teacher had told him about heaven? Why is this comment significant?

7. In what way does Hurston depict the difference between the two generations depicted in "Magnolia Flower"?

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

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

10. In what way do Alfred and Matty act as foils to one another within the story "John Redding Goes to Sea"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose an object from Hitting a Straight Lick With a Crooked Stick, such as the gold watch charm, the tablecloth, or some other symbolic object and discuss its overall meaning and its connection to themes within the text.

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

Discuss Hurston’s use of metaphor, simile, imagery, and other literary devices as a means to send particular thematic messages within the narrative of Hitting a Straight Lick With a Crooked Stick.

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This section contains 1,312 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample