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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. How does the author describe Acton's appearance from Dorcas's point of view?

2. Who does Joe think is his mother?

3. What sort of birth does the naked pregnant girl have?

4. What does Felice's mother have to show in order for her to be able to go inside the store?

5. Why does Alice move back to Springfield?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the narrator describe Acton?

2. Why does Dorcas break up with Joe?

3. Describe the way Felice obtains the ring, as presented by the narrator in Chapter Nine.

4. In Chapter Seven, what does Henry Lestory find when he gets back to his cabin?

5. Describe the birthing scene of the naked black girl in Chapter Seven.

6. In Chapter Seven, why does Joe think Wild is his own mother?

7. In Chapter Eight, what does Dorcas notice about Joe?

8. Describe what Violet sees when she first spots Felice in Chapter Nine.

9. Describe the relationship between True Belle and Golden Gray.

10. Why do you think the ambulance takes such a long time to come help Dorcas? What excuses do they give?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Briefly summarize the incident when Malvonne finds the mail behind the refrigerator. What does she do in response? Why does she spend time doing these sorts of things, and what irony do you find in the events?

Essay Topic 2

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

Essay Topic 3

Describe the significance of Malvonne's presence in Morrison's novel. What does the character of Malvonne add to the plot? What is the story like if Morrison does not include such an antagonist?

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This section contains 604 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample