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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 are Belinda's favorite flowers in the Otuos' garden?

2. What kind of handles are said to be the most valuable at the market?

3. In what type of physical greeting do Amma and Belinda engage when they first meet?

4. Belinda is surprised by which aspect of the photos she sees in Amma's bedroom?

5. The narrator states that Belinda had started working in Aunty and Uncle's house at the same time as which other character?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the kitchen sink symbolize in relation to Mary and Belinda's relationship?

2. Discuss a striking use of metaphor that occurs in the prologue.

3. What is the symbolism of the oily rag?

4. In what way does the sound motif enter the narrative in relation to Belinda's feelings toward Mary?

5. What simile does Mary employ in order to describe her idea of an automaton lifestyle?

6. What types of clues does Donkor provide to suggest that Mary might have endured trauma in her past?

7. What part of Amma's privilege frustrates her?

8. What sort of coping mechanism does Belinda herself long to use after she is "attacked" (80) with Amma's teddy bear?

9. What contrast does Belinda see between Amma's appearance and her scent?

10. What is the significance of Amma's cigarette butt that she leaves behind a couch cushion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze Donkor’s focus on the theme of class difference in Housegirl. What message is Donkor sending about wealth, socioeconomic status, and privilege?

Essay Topic 2

Could Housegirl be classified as a coming-of-age story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Write a critical essay about Housegirl while using the critical power theory lens of Marxist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the novel's treatment of issues such as socioeconomic status, hierarchies, wealth, class, or any other issues related to Marxist theory that can be found in the novel.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,188 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample