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

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Sing's full name?

2. What helps Hagar escape the trance?

3. With what does Guitar try to kill Milkman?

4. Where does First Corinthians go to school?

5. Who is also sitting at Susan Byrd's house?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The ongoing debate over nature vs. the ideals of society is one that plays out in this novel, especially with those in the Dead family.

Part 1 - Compare and contrast Pilate and Macon. How do they live and how does this relate to society?

Part 2 - Do you feel society plays a large role in the decisions we make or does our upbringing play a larger role? Why?

Part 3 - Does society cause us to be who we are or does family? Give examples from the book to 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

The concept of love is a strange one in this novel as it seems to be out of proportion for the relationships that are described.

Part 1 - Describe Macon's love for Ruth.

Part 2 - Describe Ruth's love for her son and for her father.

Part 3 - Describe Hagar's love for Milkman.

Part 4 - What do these examples of love seem to indicate about the novel's ideas of love? Is love a good thing? A bad thing? A strange thing? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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