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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 what does Laura say they need money?

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

3. What does the image of Buddy and Laura's sparkling eyes invoke?

4. What does Laura want to play a greater role in church services?

5. How is the church a few blocks away doing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do you think CJ's initial motives are in trying to get Marietta to make love with him and why do you think that changes?

2. Do you think Essie is turning a blind eye to Laura giving out "lucky texts" from the pulpit, or do you think she really believes Laura is just trying to give the congregation hope?

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

4. What is ironic about the beginning of Essie and Laura's church?

5. What image at the end of this chapter is particularly striking and tells much about Laura?

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

7. What might have changed the course of Laura's life if Essie had thrown the knife away when Chicken-Crow-For-Day throws away his weapons in Chapter 12?

8. Just as Laura says she is like her mother in many ways, in what ways does Laura contrast herself to her mother?

9. The ending of Chapter 1 and the beginning of Chapter 36, both are concerned with hymns singing to God; how are the circumstances different and alike in the two chapters?

10. How is the title of Chapter 28, "Cross to Bear" relevant to Buddy and Laura's relationship?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The chapter titles in this book are very important both as clues to the content but also as symbolic representations of events and characters. 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. Choose two chapter titles other than "Palm Sunday" and "Visions of a Rock" and explain fully why they are titled as such, how the title informs the events of the chapter, and the title's symbolic meaning. Is the title effective? Does it fit the content of the chapter?

2. In a detailed essay, explore the chapter title "Palm Sunday" and its symbolic significance both in the events in that chapter and throughout the book.

3. In a detailed essay, explore the chapter title "Visions of a Rock" and its symbolic significance both in the events in that chapter and throughout the book.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the novel, Essie's search for spiritual fulfillment is contrasted to Laura's quest for physical/material gratification. 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. Compare and contrast the concepts of spiritual fulfillment versus physical/material gratification using both examples from the book and in your own experience.

2. Describe fully Essie's search for spiritual fulfillment, using specific examples from the novel. Do you think she is successful by the end of the novel?

3. Describe fully Laura's search for physical/material gratification, using specific examples from the novel. Do you think she is successful by the end of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

The theme of morality is woven throughout this novel and is an integral part of understanding both the characters and the plot. Answer the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. How would you define morality as it is used in this novel?

2. Do all the characters have the same definition of morality? How do the characters differ in the way they perceive morality and in how they perceive themselves as moral people?

3. How important is it to Essie, Laura and Buddy that they are perceived as moral people? Give examples to illustrate each person's belief. How important is it to each of those characters that they are actually moral people? Is there a discrepancy? Why do you think this is?

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