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 Jones conclude about the best way to get to Lutie?

2. What does Bub plan to do with the money he's earned from the mail scheme?

3. What does Jones believe will make him "go to pieces"?

4. What conflicting impulses does Lutie experience after hearing Junto's stipulations about the money?

5. Why does Boots want to dodge the draft?

Short Essay Questions

1. It is both Lutie's presence and her absence that allows Jones to get a hold of Bub. Explain how this is possible.

2. In Chapter 17, Lutie is going to visit Bub at the Children's Shelter. The day is dark and grim. How has the author used the weather to supplement the telling of this story? How does the author's decision to use weather to supplement a story's telling impact the reader?

3. Unfortunately, Bub's demise can be directly tied to Lutie. Despite her many attempts to keep Bub safe, she is actually the bait used to trap him. What message is the author trying to reveal with this fact?

4. Chapter 18 ends tragically when Lutie repeatedly strikes Boots in the head with a candlestick. What does the author intend for Boots to represent? Why does Lutie feel compelled to strike him so many times?

5. In Chapter 16, Bub is taken into custody by the post-office investigators. How does this fact impact Lutie's feelings about The Street?

6. Describe Jones' inability to own any responsibility for the nature of his relationship with Lutie.

7. What does Boots' ultimate decision to obey Junto's request to leave Lutie alone say about his character?

8. At the close of Chapter 17, Lutie is desperate to escape the silence that seems to escape her. Throughout the book, Lutie seeks refuge from silence. Why does silence represent such a problem for Lutie?

9. Chapter 15 begins with a description of the sky. As Min looks up, she recalls that last year's skies were far more colorful. How does this contrast in the skies' colors reflect Min's life?

10. Analyze Mrs. Hedges' state of mind.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Every writer has his or her own style. That style is marked by word choice, sentence structure, and elements like characterization and plot development. How would you describe Ann Petry's style? Be sure to use direct quotes from the text to illustrate your point. It may be helpful to compare and contrast Petry to other authors you've read.

Essay Topic 2

Up until the novel's end, Lutie can be heralded as a virtuous character. Then, she kills Boots. In an essay, chart Lutie's decline and go further to explain it. What is the author's message in the demise of her main and moral character?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the male characters and the female characters in The Street. How do their roles in the novel differ? Specifically, how do their roles within the family, community (The Street), and greater world diverge? What qualities do both genders possess, if any? How have these differences developed according to the novel's characters? For example, how does Lutie explain the differences between the sexes? Use the text to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,173 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample