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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. What does Laura want to do with the money?

2. How are Essie and Laura described on the first day of church in their new place?

3. What are Essie and Laura doing at the opening of this novel?

4. What do the two say about Essie?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Which woman would you support in the argument about what to do with their first 2,000 dollars and why?

2. What does it say about Laura as a person to send Marietta downstairs to get Essie knowing what Marietta will find?

3. 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?

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

5. Do you think Essie's journey towards spiritual enlightenment is helped or hindered by being thrown into jail?

6. How does Laura seem to have her moment of transformation as she comes to jail and confronts Essie?

7. What does Laura tell Essie about Marietta and CJ and why do you think she does so?

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

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

10. How is the title of Chapter 28 also relevant in the relationship between Laura and Essie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Laura is constantly projecting personality traits, beliefs, or motives upon other characters. Answer the following questions by writing a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text, your research or personal experience:

1. What does it mean to project motives or traits upon someone else? Give a couple examples from your own experience when you or someone you know has projected a motive, trait, or belief upon someone else.

2. Name four instances when Laura projects personality traits, beliefs, or motives upon other characters. How accurate is she?

3. Why do you think Laura projects personality traits, beliefs, or motives upon other characters? How can projecting cause one to be taken off guard by someone some day? Does that happen in the case of Laura (example as with Birdie Lee)?

Essay Topic 3

Chapter 10, "The Fix" is an interesting juxtaposing of spiritual with moral corruption. Answer the following questions in a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. What do you think Laura's motives are for her actions in this chapter, particularly regarding soliciting money from gamblers, pimps and prostitutes and bribing cops?

2. Are Laura's lack of integrity and her resulting actions for a good cause justifiable? Give examples from this chapter and others. Why or why not?

3. Do you think Essie should be more forceful about stopping some of Laura's actions? Do you think she knows about the bribes to cops?

4. What could Essie do to stop Laura now when corruption has not become an established way of life for Laura?

(see the answer keys)

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