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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. How can Spunk's clothes best be described?

2. Why do the men treat Joe this way?

3. Who is clinging to Spunk in Chapter 2?

4. How can Joe be described?

5. How do people in the town treat Spunk?

Short Essay Questions

1. Do you admire Spunk or despise him? Why?

2. How does the point of view affect the reader's perspective in Chapter 1?

3. What is Spunk's reaction immediately following Joe's death? How is it different from Lena's reaction?

4. Who is your favorite character in Chapter 1? Why?

5. How do others in the town treat Spunk? Why do they treat him this way?

6. What does Walter think about Spunk killing Joe?

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

8. What is fascinating about Spunk? In finishing Chapter 1, what do you predict will happen to him?

9. Who is the winner of Hurston's story? How so?

10. Describe the scene surrounding Joe's death.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Identify the climax of this story and the series of events leading up to the climax. How did characters respond to the climax? What did Hurston include in the story to insure that the climax would be as powerful and meaningful as possible?

Essay Topic 2

Identify the concept of a tragic hero (or heroine). Describe one character in Hurston's book that you think can be described as a tragic hero, and explain what makes them fit the description. Why does Hurston decide to include this particular character in the book? What does he or she represent?

Essay Topic 3

Do you think Spunk and Lena are in love? What about Joe and Lena? Support your opinions with specific examples from the novel.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 691 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample