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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 Joe Lindsay bring the mule bone to the store?

2. Where did Joe Lindsay find the mule bone?

3. What does Sister Taylor say she would do with Daisy if she were her mother?

4. Which of the following best describes the Baptist position on Jim Weston's guilt?

5. How do the children react to Sister Taylor's reprimands?

Short Essay Questions

1. What evidence throughout Act 2, Scene 2, suggests that Joe Clarke is unfamiliar with court procedures?

2. Why does Deacon Simms get frustrated during his defense argument?

3. What reason does Sister Thomas give to support why they should all testify for Jim at the trial?

4. Why does Daisy refuse to follow Jim and wander on without direction in Act 3?

5. How do Jim's and Dave's attitudes toward Daisy change at the end of Act 3?

6. How do Jim and Dave react to the squabbling among the people at the trial?

7. Why is Lum Boger unable to testify about the fight between Dave and Jim?

8. What do the other characters think of Mrs. Roberts?

9. How do the men of the town suggest that Mrs. Roberts be dealt with?

10. Describe Daisy's reaction to Dave's and Jim's fight.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the authors' treatment of women in the play. What roles do the women play, and what stereotypes do they fall into? How do the characters perpetuate traditional gender roles and stereotypes? Be sure to use evidence from the text to support your point.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the struggle between Joe Clarke and Deacon Simms. What seems to be at the root of their animosity toward each other? How does each use the trial as an excuse to gain power over the other? Provide examples from the text to support your points.

Essay Topic 3

Hughes and Hurston wrote "Mule Bone" as a homage to the use of humor in overcoming adversity. Oppressed cultures often rely on humor as a means of survival, and among Southern post-slavery African-Americans, humor and sarcasm were a means of attacking others and of expressing affection. Describe how this concept emerges in "Mule Bone." In what ways does humor strengthen bonds, and in what ways is it used to attack others? Provide specific examples from the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,103 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample