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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 do Elijah and Walter see walking down the street in Chapter 1?

2. What is Spunk's last name?

3. Why doesn't Joe fight Spunk?

4. Why does Elijah think Spunk is seeing Lena?

5. Why do Walter and Elijah admire Spunk?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is the climax of Hurston's story?

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

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

5. What does the black bobcat represent?

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

7. What is the wake for Spunk like?

8. Describe the relationship between Joe and Lena.

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the tone of "Spunk"? Why would Hurston choose to write the story in this type of tone? What impact does the tone have on the way the reader perceives the characters and sequence of events?

Essay Topic 2

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

Essay Topic 3

How would you describe the development of the relationship between Lena and Spunk? Why do you think Lena becomes so quickly attached to him? What benefits do both characters derive from the relationship?

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