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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What do CJ and Marietta want to do after the church service?

2. About what does CJ seem surprised?

3. What does going "North" mean to Southern Blacks at the time of this story?

4. What angers Laura as she arrives at the church?

5. What does Laura do when she comes into the jail and is locked up?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The characters in TAMBOURINES TO GLORY are the central focus of the novel; in other words, the characters drive the plot rather than the other way around as is the case in some novels. 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. Write an in-depth character analysis of Essie. Include a physical description, personality traits, and what beliefs motivate her. What do you like and dislike about this character? Why? Give specific examples.

2. Write an in-depth character analysis of Laura. Include a physical description, personality traits, and what beliefs motivate her. What do you like and dislike about this character? Why? Give specific examples.

3. Choose three other characters besides Laura or Essie and write about them in relationship to both Laura and Essie. Are they friendly or hostile to either main character? Explain with examples. What is their purpose(s) in the story?

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 14, "Enter Buddy," a new character is introduced and one who has great influence on the events of the rest of the book. 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. Write an in-depth character analysis of Buddy. Include a physical description, personality traits, and what beliefs motivate him. What do you like and dislike about this character? Why? Give specific examples.

2. Describe the process whereby Buddy gradually takes over much of the way the church is managed. How is he able to do this? What could Essie have done to stop him?

3. How could Buddy be likened to the serpent in the garden of Eden (unlike being compared to Adam as Buddy does so himself)?

4. Do you think Buddy deserves what he receives in the end? Explain fully with examples.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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