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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 comes out from the woods in Chapter 2?

2. From whose point of view is the story told?

3. Why do Walter and Elijah feel sorry for Joe?

4. Why is Spunk seen as a hero?

5. Which character is described as a giant, brown-skinned man?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the fact that Spunk is not able to use his gun to kill the bobcat ironic?

2. At what point does Spunk become paranoid that Joe is haunting him? How does this relate to his occupation?

3. What offer from Spunk does Lena refuse in Chapter 1? Why do you think she does this?

4. When Joe enters the store in Chapter 1, how is he treated?

5. From what perspective is Chapter 2 told? Why is this important?

6. What does Spunk seem to think the bobcat is?

7. What is the wake for Spunk like?

8. What role do Walter and Elijah play in this story?

9. What sort of supernatural twist does Hurston give her story?

10. From whose perspective is Chapter 3 told?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the purpose of a foil in literature? Describe one character in Hurston's work that you believe is a foil of another character. Why do you think Hurston may have created characters that emphasize each other's qualities?

Essay Topic 2

How is the concept of the supernatural implemented throughout Hurston's novel?

Essay Topic 3

How does Hurston incorporate the concept of man versus self in the novel? Which character do you think is the best example of man versus self, and why?

(see the answer keys)

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