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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. Where had Jay enjoyed visiting during the summers when they were younger?

2. What are Avey's thoughts when she catches a glimpse of herself in a mirror in the Versailles Room?

3. How does Avey approach Jay on the question of infidelity?

4. What did Jay read to the girls on Sunday mornings?

5. What is Avey's personality as an adult?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Avey feel guilty about reminiscing about the days spent at the Halsey Street apartment?

3. What happened when Avey finally let loose with her suspicions of Jay?

4. What does the taxi driver tell Avey about the close ties among the community of people on the island?

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

6. What does Avey recall about the hard financial times they had during their early marriage?

7. What legend did Great Aunt Cuney tell Avey about the African Ibos?

8. What are Avey's plans and how does she make her exit from the cruise?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Praisesong for the Widow is a classic story of renewal and rebirth. What does that classification entail? Why does this novel fit into this category? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Explain the role of black women in the 1970s. What precedents do they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do they have? Do they have any freedoms that 21st century women do not have?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,060 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample