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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 unable to believe existed during her childhood?

2. What is the Sacred Serpent?

3. What did the woman in #24 bury beneath the big magnolia tree?

4. What is notable about Meridian's mother's preacher's voice?

5. In what year do Lynne and Truman arrive at the state in #94?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Meridian see herself in the young girl in prison and how does that help Meridian?

2. With what group of people does Meridian's father sympathize and how does he show his compassion regarding the disposition of his farm?

3. How does Meridian try to affect change without resorting to violence?

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

5. What is the difference between how Meridian and Truman view the story of the woman whose husband loved his dog more than he loved her?

6. Why does Truman go to Meridian while still being married to Lynne?

7. Why is the death of Lynne and Truman's daughter unfortunately a natural extension of their "unnatural" marriage?

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

9. What is the irony of Lynne's character regarding being oppressed?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief character study of Truman Held. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him, if anything, at this point in his life?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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.

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This section contains 1,107 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample