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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. Delphine carries the letter in her purse for months before visiting _______ one afternoon.

2. Who does Coleman call from the pay phone that he finds in the student union building?

3. What is not listed in Faunia's records when they are obtained for future investigation?

4. Faunia knows that ___________ is the only one fighting for herself.

5. Coleman watches a group of people who are likely members of the _________ classes and he thinks he should be one of them.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Coleman decide to never tell his children or his wife about his racial heritage?

2. What does Coleman worry has caused the many troubles between himself and his children?

3. What does Coleman think when he sees the members of the Elderhostel classes walking to the dining hall?

4. What happens to stop Coleman from going to Delphine's office to confront her?

5. What does Faunia end up doing with the ring Coleman gave to her?

6. What is in the content of the first letter that Delphine writes to Coleman, though she tears it up?

7. What does Coleman encourage Faunia to do that Steena once did with him in the past?

8. How does Nathan encounter Coleman and Faunia at the open rehearsal of the Boston Symphony?

9. What are Delphine's ideas about women and about their sexuality?

10. What does Les think he has to do in order to be able to feel things again?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The title of this book is certainly striking in and of itself, even before a reader dives into the text.

Part 1: What did you think the title referred to when you first picked up the book?

Part 2: Having read the book, how does the title relate to the book?

Part 3: The idea of a stain implies a negative meaning. Does this title have a negative connotation? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

It's interesting that the story includes a modern day reference to the Bill Clinton scandal, as it mirrors other events in the story as well.

Part 1: Why do you think the author decided to include the reference to the Bill Clinton scandal?

Part 2: Do you think Clinton's situation and Coleman's situation are similar? Why or why not?

Part 3: What do you think the novel has to say about affairs between older men and younger women?

Essay Topic 3

Coleman's determination to live a life the way he wanted to live it had effects on everyone, even if that wasn't his intention.

Part 1: Why do you think Coleman was all right with the idea that his family basically disowned him?

Part 2: Why do you think that Coleman decided to choose to be white instead of black?

Part 3: How do you think Coleman's friends would have reacted had they known he was part black?

(see the answer keys)

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