View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Lutie notice about Jones' apartment?

2. Now that Lutie and Bub live alone, what is her biggest fear about leaving her son without supervision?

3. How does Bub feel about being slapped by Lutie?

4. Why does Bub ask Lutie if he can read while she's at The Casino?

5. What does Jones see in the bedroom that stops him in his tracks?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe how Jones and Lutie view one another.

2. What is likely the reason Bub refuses to tell his mother he's afraid of the dark?

3. How did the white bartenders treat the patrons of Junto's? How did this treatment differ from the treatment they received in the workforce?

4. Chapter 5 introduces the relationship between Mrs. Hedges and Min. How would you describe this relationship? Why does Min finds refuge in Mrs. Hedges?

5. Chapter 1 opens with the description of a cold and windy day in New York City. Why might the author have chosen to describe the wind through personification?

6. How does the stolen purse incident reflect the theme of the book?

7. Lutie secures the job at the Chandlers', but she is unable to share her joy with her husband. Why is this?

8. Chapter 2 provides Lutie with a valuable lesson: "Anybody could be rich if he wanted to and worked hard enough and figured it out carefully enough." Still, Lutie is often discouraged by the world around her. How does the external world affect Lutie's internal life?

9. In Chapter 2, Lutie returns from Mrs. Chandler's and arrives in Harlem relieved to be away from white people. How does Lutie believe that white women and men look at her?

10. How does chapter 3 illustrate the racism and sexism faced by Lutie? Provide at least 1 example of each.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel's title - The Street - indicates a sense of generality. The book is not given the name of a specific street. Still, it's clear that The Street is not just ANY street. In an essay, explain the loaded nature of the book's title. Be sure to address the author's decision to assign such a vague name while addressing a specific setting. Use details from the text to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

While Boots can certainly be considered a shady character, he has done far less to harm Lutie than either Jones or Junto. Why then do you believe it is Boots who Lutie ends up harming? Do you think this was a deliberate act on the part of the author? If so, what point was she trying to make? Did she succeed in making it?

Essay Topic 3

The Street presents the reader with several conflicted characters--characters who exhibit both honorable and deplorable qualities. Consider the characters and their conflicting qualities. It may be helpful to outline your ideas. Once you've completed the outline, write a brief essay analyzing these characters. In addition, give your opinion on Petry's choice to employ such characters.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,084 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample