View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Jean's mother's response to the news about Jean's sexuality?

2. How much warning do Jean and Melanie have of what will happen at church when they are separated?

3. What do people do when they tell stories?

4. What does Jean tell the church?

5. According to the chapter, Deuteronomy, what is time?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens that makes the sorcerer cast Winnet out?

2. Describe what happened when Jean's biological mother returned to claim her.

3. What does the author say about the curious and the collector of curios?

4. According to the chapter Deuteronomy what are some ways that people change or deny the past?

5. What is Jean's mother's reaction to the discovery of Jean's continued interest in women?

6. While Jean is locked up in her mother's house after being accused of loving Melanie at church, who does Jean talk to and what do they say?

7. What do the pastor and Jean's mother propose after discovering Jean's continued interest in women, and what is Jean's response?

8. How does Winnet end up living with the sorcerer and believing she is his daughter?

9. What must Winnet do to reach the beautiful city? What is it like when she reaches it?

10. How was Katy and Jean's relationship discovered by the members of the church?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jean's mother, whose name we never actually learn, is one of the most overwhelming characters of the book and it is her hands more than any that shape Jean's childhood.

Part 1. Describe Jean's mother.

Part 2. Jean described her mother as "Old Testament." What does she mean?

Part 3. What hints are we given into Jean's mother's past that indicate she might not be entirely as she seems. What hints are we given and what can we guess?

Essay Topic 2

The action of the novel happens in a community of Pentecostal Evangelists, and the conflict in the story is caused by their beliefs.

Part 1. Who are the Pentecostal Evangelists, and what do they believe in?

Part 2. Have they changed since the 1960s when this story took place?

Part 3. What would it be like to be raised in such a community?

Essay Topic 3

The central themes in the novel deal with sexuality and gender roles.

Part 1. Describe the views that expressed by the members of Jean's church.

Part 2. Analyze the views described. Are they sexist or prejudice?

Part 3. What philosophies exist contrary to this position? What is anti-essentialism?

Part 4. What effect do holding these views have on religious institutions such as Jean's church?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,136 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample