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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 is Doaker doing when Wining Boy shows up at the house?

2. What does Boy Willie threaten to do to the piano?

3. What does Doaker believe he sees Sutter's ghost doing, which he refuses to tell his sister about?

4. Whose faces are carved into the piano legs at Sutter's request?

5. Lymon and Boy Willie have come to sell what fruit?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Boy Willie continues to insist that he be told the name of the prospective buyer for the piano?

2. When Avery arrives with his Bible to begin the exorcism, what information does he give Doaker about the state of the new church?

3. After his failed date, what gift does Lymon give to Berniece, and what is her response to the gesture?

4. When Berniece and Lymon's conversation turns to Avery, what advice does Lymon give to Berniece about the relationship?

5. What type of encounter does Boy Willie explain that he has had with the piano's potential buyer on his way home from Grace's?

6. What trade was made between the Charles and Sutter families at Ophelia's request?

7. What role does Berniece play in the exorcism of Sutter's ghost?

8. What realization does Boy Willie make when he hears his heart beating as a "black man's heart"?

9. Why does Berniece send Maretha to the store on the day that Boy Willie intends to remove the piano?

10. What conflict arises between the siblings surrounding the future of the piano?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

This history of slavery within the Charles family repeats itself throughout the text. Briefly explain the ways that slavery has affected the Charles family in the past, the present, and the future?

Essay Topic 2

Both Cleotha and Crawley are remembered by their mourning spouses throughout the play. Explain how Crawley and Cleotha died and compare/contrast the ways that their spouses keep their memories alive.

Essay Topic 3

Because of the history of slavery within the Charles family, there is another prevalent theme of revenge, since the men in the Charles family desire to steal back what was stolen from them by the Sutters.

Part 1. Briefly describe one scene of revenge within the play.

Part 2. Explain why the Charles family member acting on revenge thought that this would earn them back what was stolen.

Part 3. Explain the outcome of the revengeful act. In your opinion. Was it worth the risk of being caught?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 881 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample