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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. For how long has Delia been doing people's laundry to bring in money?

2. What does Delia tell Sykes will one day kill her?

3. What does Walter say he sees Sykes do every time he passes a woman?

4. For how long has Delia been married to Sykes?

5. Who says he would have married Delia himself if Sykes had not beaten him to it?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the symbolism of the iron skillet.

2. What is the significance of Joe Clarke's pronouncement that some men treat women like pieces of sugar-cane?

3. In what ways do the men on Joe Clarke's porch express admiration of Delia?

4. In what ways does Sykes's character emerge within the story's very first featured encounter between Sykes and Delia?

5. What is shown about Delia's character traits in the very first paragraph of the story?

6. In what ways do the men on Joe Clarke's porch express contempt for Sykes?

7. How is the reader made aware that Delia used to love Sykes and still could if he would only change his behavior?

8. At what point does the author show the first change in Delia's character and how does she portray this change?

9. How is foreshadowing incorporated into the very first encounter between Delia and Sykes?

10. What is ironic about Sykes's stating that his reason for ordering Delia to cease taking in laundry from white folks is that he has promised God that she will do so?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is the conflict of racial tension presented within the short story Sweat?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss how the author uses various characterization methods to depict the protagonist of the story, Delia.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of rebirth within the story Sweat.

(see the answer keys)

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