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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 does Avey dream when she is below deck?

2. What is the location of Avey's dream prior to waking?

3. On the beach, Avey thinks and moves like ______________.

4. What did Avey do during the discrimination of black people in the 1960s and 1970s?

5. Why did Avey's family go to Bear Mountain when she was a girl?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Lebert's interest in determining Avey's tribe?

2. How does Avey know she has come back to herself?

3. In whose care had Avey been during the night of the boat trip to the island?

4. How does Avey meet Lebert Joseph?

5. What is Juba and what might it mean for Avey?

6. What happens to Avey when she finally lets her true nature come to the forefront as she stands on the hotel room balcony?

7. In what ways is Avey's meltdown at the hotel a clearing of the path for her spiritually?

8. What does Avey reminisce about her father and family trips as she is waiting on the dock?

9. Of what did Avey live in denial during the 1960s and 1970s regarding her heritage?

10. What is the sermon that Avey recalls hearing as a little girl?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of Jay/Jerome. What did he look like? What were his positive personality traits? What were some of his negative characteristics? What were his hopes and fears? What motivated him during his lifetime?

Essay Topic 3

Explain Marshall's use of regionalism in the novel. Cite examples of at least two different instances of regionalism and explain why the author used them where she did.

(see the answer keys)

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