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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 does Boy Willie threaten to do to the piano?

2. What does Doaker do for a living?

3. How much money does Wining Boy ask for as a loan from Doaker?

4. What is the name of Wining Boy's late ex-wife?

5. Before the dream in which Avery was told to change his profession, what did he do for a living?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Wining Boy arrives at Doaker's home, he wants to know what is happening with Boy Willie and his sales. What does Doaker tell him?

2. What does Boy Willie claim has happened to the man named Sutter?

3. How does Berniece respond when she happens upon Boy Willie and Grace?

4. What does Berniece ask Avery to do after Maretha has seen Sutter's ghost, and how does Avery respond?

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

6. What happens when Wining Boy goes to the city to pawn his belongings?

7. How was Lymon's father killed?

8. How did Sutter react to the disappearance of his prized piano?

9. After a long day selling watermelons and trying to pawn clothing, how do the men in the Charles family settle down to relax?

10. What confrontation do Boy Willie and Berniece get into as Boy Willie watches Berniece comb Maretha's hair?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The piano itself is arguably the strongest symbol in the entire play. Explain the history of the piano and briefly discuss why the physical structure of the piano can be seen as a symbol within the Charles family.

Essay Topic 2

Storytelling proves to be one of the most powerful elements of information transfer throughout the play. Choose one story that was told during the course of the play, explain the story's significance, and discuss how this story is an example of the importance of storytelling in the Charles family culture.

Essay Topic 3

The railroads of the town are extremely significant throughout the play.

Part 1. Explain the symbolism of a railroad as it pertains to Boy Willie's life.

Part 2. Explain the reasons why the railroad is important in Doaker's life.

Part 3. Explain why the railroad has come to be an important element in the supernatural elements of the play.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 922 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample