3. When the men all grunt in approval in response to Old Man Anderson's suggestion that they kill Sykes, what does the narrator say then melts with the heat?

4. What adverb is used to indicate the manner in which Sykes pushes Delia when he wants her to see the rattlesnake he has brought home?

5. What adjective does Old Man Anderson use to describe his view of what kind of man Sykes had always been?

Short Essay Questions

1. Which elements of Bertha's character are disparaged by the group of men at Joe Clarke's store once she leaves with Sykes?

2. How does Sykes go about showing the rattlesnake to Delia after he has brought it home?

3. What plans does Sykes make with Bertha and what is the significance of these plans?

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

5. How does the snake's behavior change once it has taken two or three days to digest its large meal of frogs?

6. What is Hurston's purpose for alluding to Gethsemane and the rocks of Calvary during the period of conflict with Sykes?

7. When Old Man Anderson suggests that the men kill Sykes, what is the men's reaction?

8. For how long has Bertha been in Eatonville and how does she support herself?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is signified by Delia's worry that Sykes is out with her horse and carriage at the start of the story and how does her worry relate to the themes inherent in the story?