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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. Which of the following is a normal element of Avey and Jay's marriage?

2. What was the name of the place where Avey's ancestors had been delivered as slaves?

3. Jay and Avey look forward to living in _________________ one day.

4. What did Jay use to unwind at night?

5. Why does Avey feel guilty in Chapter 5?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Avey learn from the taxi driver about what all the commotion is about with the people at the harbor?

2. What were Avey's daughters' opinions of Avey going on the Caribbean cruise?

3. What was Jay's response to Avey's hysterics?

4. What strikes Avey as odd as she watches the people at the harbor?

5. What reaction does Avey have to her sleek, white hotel?

6. Describe how Jay works hard to provide for his family at the expense of his own soul.

7. How does the author use a flashback to show the beginnings of Avey's discomfort on the cruise ship?

8. What visions does Avey have during the night she spends at the hotel?

9. What is the significance of the peach parfait for Avey?

10. What are some of Avey's memories of her life in the Halsey Street apartment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief character study of Avey. What does she look like? What are her positive personality traits? What are some of her negative characteristics? What are her hopes and fears? What motivates her, if anything, at this point in her life?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the role of religion and spirituality in Avey's life. What had it meant to her as a child? How were the religion lessons with her father different from the spiritual lessons with Great Aunt Cuney? Why were each of them important to Avey's development? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Praisesong for the Widow is set in the 1970s during the time of the aftermath of the Civil Rights movement in America. What impact does this factor have on the author? What impact does this factor have on any of the other characters? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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