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. How does Buddy refer to Laura and himself?

2. What sound is heard outside as Buddy and Laura talk?

3. What does Laura say Buddy is going to become?

4. What does Laura think about the Lord's help?

5. To whom does Laura liken many of her personality traits?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do the images of light and dark represent the way the white man Marty is involved behind the scenes in the church?

2. What do you think the reason is for Essie's pauses, the first of which we see in Chapter 2?

3. What rationale does Laura use to try to convince Essie to start a church with her and does it seem a reasonable rationale?

4. How does the relationship between CJ and Marietta compare to that of Laura and Buddy in Chapters 26 and 27?

5. How do Laura's and Essie's roles reverse in this chapter?

6. When Essie says she does not want to buy the Bible with gambling money, Laura accuses her of being too holy and too self righteous; from what do you think this accusation stems?

7. Do you believe Buddy really is upset that Essie does seem to believe his conversion is sincere?

8. Of what might the serpent with eyes that sparkle like diamonds in Chapter 11 be symbolic?

9. What do you think might be the significance of the title "Palm Sunday," of Chapter 1?

10. At the beginning of Chapter 1, how are the two women described and what might be construed by these descriptions?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Chapter 15, "Enter Marty" introduces a new dimension to Essie and Laura's ministry. Answer the following questions in a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Does it surprise you that a white man is the power behind "the throne" in Harlem in this time period? Explain. Explain the term "the throne" and the irony involved.

2. Why do you think the "Negroes" (the term for Blacks in that era) put up with a white man running the show on their turf? Do you think they eventually change that?

3. Who do you think runs the "throne" in Harlem now? Is the power in white or black hands or both? Or some other?

Essay Topic 2

In addition to much symbolism in this novel, there are also a number of metaphors. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Define metaphor and symbolism and compare the two using specific examples both from the book and other sources. Which do you feel is more effective? Which seems better at expressing the idea of an abstract concept? Why would you use one over the other--give specific examples.

2. For what do you think the mural of the Garden of Eden that is described in chapter 11 is a metaphor? Explain using specific examples. Does the metaphor work for you?

3. Write a real or hypothetical situation in your personal experience that includes one or more abstract concepts and then create a metaphor to express that experience. Next, choose a way to use symbolism in the telling of the experience. Which way seems more effective at portraying the experience?

Essay Topic 3

Getting the most out of this novel requires some familiarity with the environment of Harlem during this era. Answer the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. What was Harlem? Who settled it originally and when did it become a predominantly African American borough?

2. How does Harlem of today differ from the Harlem at the time of the novel? How do you think this novel would be different if set in modern-day Harlem?

3. How does the setting of Harlem inform the plot and actions of this novel? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,362 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample