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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. About what element of London does Dr. Otuo complain on Belinda's first night in his home?

2. What aspect of Amma's carriage at the Ghanafoo celebration is ridiculed by other Ghanaians at the party?

3. To what singer is Amma listening when Belinda enters Amma's room for the first time?

4. What action does Belinda take when Mary burns her hands peeling the eggs?

5. When Chapter 1 begins, how many months has it been since Belinda started working in Aunty and Uncle's house?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. For what reason does Nana bring Belinda to a shopping district in London?

3. What change in narrative perspective occurs at the start of Chapter 6?

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

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

6. How does Belinda succeed in calming Amma down when she has begun to sob during the visualization exercise?

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

8. What are the positive aspects that Belinda will miss about Mary?

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

10. What is the main source of Belinda's anxiety during the shopping trip on which Nana takes her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss how and why Donkor instills three different humanist messages into the narrative of Housegirl.

Essay Topic 2

Trace the characterization arc of Belinda’s character throughout the novel Housegirl. Discuss whether Belinda is a round or flat character and whether Belinda is a static or dynamic character.

Essay Topic 3

How do the themes of dissatisfaction and acceptance function within Housegirl and what is Donkor’s message regarding these themes?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,128 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample