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 reason does Sykes provide for his conclusion that the snake would never bite Delia?

2. What does Delia nearly do as a result of being pushed by Sykes when he is blocking the kitchen doorway?

3. What type of rattlesnake does Sykes say the snake is?

4. What does Delia do at the kitchen table just before she stands up and tells Sykes that she hates him?

5. What item does Sykes NOT buy from Joe Clarke's store during his visit there?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Delia react once Sykes both refuses to remove the rattlesnake and threatens to beat her?

2. What causes a "determined silence" (4) to fall over the porch when the men are about to slice the watermelon?

3. What is the significance of the snake baring its "scimitar" (6)-like fangs at Delia?

4. What does Sykes mean when he tells Delia not to ask him for anything and comments on her attempt to "goin' roun' trying 'tuh be so damn asterperious"? (6)

5. What two differing reasons does Sykes give for why he was able to catch the six-foot rattlesnake in the first place?

6. What arguments do the men present when they are trying to get Joe Clarke to bring out a watermelon for them to share?

7. What argumentative method does Delia use in order to convince Sykes that he needs to take the snake away from her home?

8. How does Delia try "to be blind and deaf" (5) to Sykes's gallivanting around town with Bertha?

9. How does the author demonstrate the village's viewpoint regarding Sykes's keeping of the rattlesnake?

10. What is ironic about Sykes's statement to Bertha that the town is his and that she can have it if she wants it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What type of narrator is used within the short story Sweat and how does the narration contrast with the voices of the characters?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss how the author uses various characterization methods to depict the antagonist of the story, Sykes.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss how the author goes about building the character of Bertha, even though her character does not speak any dialogue within the story.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,114 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample