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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. Why does True Belle send Violet to Palestine?

2. Who rents Joe and Dorcas a bedroom once a week?

3. Which of the following are in Violet's apartment?

4. What is the 1917 parade protesting?

5. Where do Dorcas's clothespin dolls lay?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of Dorcas's clothespin dolls in Chapter Three?

2. How does the narrator describe the scene in which Violet attacks Dorcas's body?

3. What is the story the narrator gives behind Joe's last name?

4. Why do Joe and Violet fall into such deep debt in Chapter Five?

5. Describe the death of Dorcas's mother.

6. Describe what Violet does with the picture of Dorcas in Chapter One.

7. Why is Violet known as "Violent" Trace in town?

8. Briefly describe the nature of Joe and Dorcas's relationship as described in Chapter Two.

9. How does Violet learn more about Dorcas in Chapter One? What does she learn?

10. In Chapter Four, how does the narrator describe the way Violet feels after she attacks Dorcas's body?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is racism explored and conveyed in Morrison's work? Why do you think Morrison writes about it in this way?

Essay Topic 2

What is significant about Dorcas's clothespin dolls? What role do they play throughout Dorcas's life? Why do you think Morrison chooses this particular symbol?

Essay Topic 3

What impact do you think Alice Manfred has on Dorcas? Do you think Dorcas is the same sort of person id she is not being raised by Alice? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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