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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. Irene attributes Brian's complete withdrawal to

2. Irene has a bad moment during the social event wherein she

3. Irene's response to Clare's letter is that she

4. Where would Brian prefer to live?

5. The time spent without Clare in the picture

Short Essay Questions

1. Clare attends the Negro League dance with Brian and Irene. What does the dance symbolize in the story? Why is Irene careful to arrange a ride home for Clare?

2. What is odd about the initial meeting among Irene, Gertrude and Clare? Are these conversations typical among women friends? What, if anything, makes the visit among the three women unusual?

3. What is it that has kept Clare from leaving her husband and living permanently in Harlem?

4. After two years pass, Clare again wants to become involved in Irene's life. Is Irene's reaction negative or positive? Explain her reaction.

5. What is the author's intention when she puts the two women together in the hotel restaurant scene? What conclusions can we draw from Irene's memory of that day?

6. What is the burden that these characters carry with them throughout the story?

7. What do we learn about the marriage of Irene and Brian Redfield in this chapter? Is it healthy? Is it durable? Why, or why not?

8. Discuss how giving birth to her fourth child seems to be Helga's breaking point. Why does this happen? What does the death of her infant symbolize?

9. What do we know about Clare Kendry from her letter to Irene? What do we know about her from this chapter?

10. How did her religion help Helga through difficult times?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a well-researched essay on the effects of early American blues music on women's sexuality and the perceptions that surrounded it, before and since. Was there a "code" of sexuality for women during the 20s in black Harlem? How did music influence or coincide with that code?

Essay Topic 2

What is the current level of poverty among African Americans in the American South? Choose three southern states and compare and contrast the income levels, education and population densities and racial demographics. To what can you attribute the variations among the three states?

Essay Topic 3

Who is Hugh Wentworth? What is his role in Larsen's writing? Do a close review of both stories and determine why Larsen includes Wentworth as a character. Is he simply a literary device for her? What does he represent?

(see the answer keys)

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