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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 was Meridian's father's profession?

2. What is Meridian's father doing when she visits him?

3. Why is the boy in #47 considered good to Meridian?

4. What did Meridian's mother consider her children to be?

5. Meridian has a spell of _______________.

Short Essay Questions

1. How are Truman's changing feelings for Lynne exacerbated by Tommy Odds?

2. What does Truman learn about where Meridian is living and her illness?

3. How do Meridian's parents differ in their views of injustice?

4. What role does the church play in the Civil Rights movement?

5. How do Meridian and Truman help Margaret Treasure and why is this help the standard for how they approach people?

6. Describe how Meridian's inner turmoil begins to exhibit physically. What is the significance of Meridian's illness?

7. How does Meridian's work in the civil rights office begin to open up her world?

8. How is Meridian's experience with sex typical of poor, black girls?

9. How have Meridian and Lynne changed when Lynne comes for a visit?

10. Why does Mrs. Hill think that having children has ruined her life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the significance of the novel's title. What did the author mean by calling the book MERIDIAN? Cite an example to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the story. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the overall setting for the novel. Why does Walker use the setting she does? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the characters?

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This section contains 998 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample