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

Short Answer Questions

1. How are these children killed?

2. Who does Milkman ask Susan about?

3. What do Pilate and Reba give to Hagar at the end of the chapter?

4. What does Milkman use to fight off the other man?

5. With whom does First Corinthians start a relationship?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The attempt to fly is just one of the ways Morrison symbolizes the characters' need to escape from their conditions.

Part 1 - Describe the opening scene with Robert Smith and why he decided he wanted to fly away.

Part 2 - What is the significance of the story of Solomon the Flying Man? What does it mean for the rest of the characters?

Part 3 - Why do you think Milkman decides to fly as well at the end of the story? Is it a sign that he has given up or is it a sign of strength? Support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

The songs in this book are powerful points in the story and they relay different ways the characters feel about each other and the different ways the characters are connected.

Part 1 - Give three examples of the way song is used in this novel (besides the title).

Part 2 - Describe what each of these examples of song seem to say about those who are singing and about those who are sung to.

Part 3 - Obviously, the title is an example of song as well, but why do you think this title was chosen? What is its significance? Is it a strong title? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of images - ghosts, peacocks, cedar tree, etc. - that seem to pop up in this novel as symbols for something greater in terms of the novel's message.

Part 1 - List at least four symbols that occur in this story, where they occur, and who sees them.

Part 2 - What do you think each of these symbols mean for the story when they appear?

Part 3 - Do these symbols help to add to the story's message? Why or why not? What do you feel the overall message might be?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 383 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample