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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. Who is trying to fly at the start of the novel?

2. What does Milkman realize as Hagar tries to kill him and fails?

3. What does Milkman throw his father into?

4. What is the name of the midwife who delivers Macon and Pilate?

5. What is another name for the hospital in the story?

Short Essay Questions

1. What breaks Hagar from her three day trance?

2. What is the cause of Guitar's new and strange habits?

3. What does Milkman do for his father in the rental business?

4. How does Hagar get the money to buy things to make herself pretty?

5. What idea does Macon resist when talking to Milkman?

6. What hinders Milkman's journey to his father's old house?

7. What does Milkman notice about himself as he grows older?

8. What are some of the ways First Corinthians hides her true employment situation?

9. What does Milkman tell Pilate about the bones she found in the cave?

10. What is wrong with Mercy Hospital that it has been given a not-so-flattering nickname?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The women in this story seem to be quite different, especially those in Milkman's life. Through his interactions with women, he becomes the man he grows up to be.

Part 1 - Describe the relationship between Milkman and Ruth.

Part 2 - Describe the relationship between Milkman and Pilate

Part 3 - Of these two relationships, which one seems to affect Milkman the most?

Part 4 - What is the relationship between the two women? Does this affect Milkman?

Essay Topic 2

Gold seems to be the thing on many of the men's minds in this book. But while they are all unsuccessful, they still seem to long for that which they can not have.

Part 1 - Describe Macon's search for the gold in the story. What are his motivations for getting the gold?

Part 2 - Describe Milkman's quest for the gold in the story. What are his motivations?

Part 3 - Describe Guitar's quest for the gold. What are his motivations? What does it cause him to do? Why do you think he resorted to violence?

Essay Topic 3

The role of racism in the story is different as it seems almost as if it is accepted into society instead of rebelled against, as it is in so many other tales.

Part 1 - Describe 3 instances of racism in the story.

Part 2 - For each of these instances, describe whether or not the characters have accepted the racism. Why or why not?

Part 3 - When racism is accepted, can it ever be erased? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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