View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does John hide behind the refrigerator?

2. Why has Jeff been away from home?

3. What does John count?

4. What is the premise of the play?

5. What had Ann told Mattie she wouldn't do during her visit?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Dudley find so amazing about the poem that John reads to Ann?

2. What happens when Mo derides Jeff's dream of fighting for Black rights via the legal system?

3. How does Grandma inadvertently upset Mattie when they are talking about John?

4. Why does Dudley decide to tell John about Mattie's health?

5. What is John doing at the beginning of Act 2?

6. Who is John Williams and what is his demeanor as he enters the play?

7. What is Grandma's opinion of Ann?

8. How does John behave when he finally arrives home?

9. Why does the author use the theme of black male figures in the story?

10. What is Jeff's response when Chips tries to antagonize Ann again?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Project into the future ten years and write a brief synopsis for the lives of Jeff, Ann and Dudley. Be sure to include emotional states as well as physical characteristics, geographic locations, work, hobbies, socialization, etc.

Essay Topic 2

The author gives stage direction for the music of a bass to punctuate different events during the play. The music then takes on an almost human persona in this story. What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

Essay Topic 3

Create a brief character study of Mattie. 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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 819 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample