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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 Harpo blame for his strange bruises?

2. What bothers Celie about her father’s new wife?

3. How long does Mr. leave Celie alone when Shug comes to town?

4. How many children do Mr. and Shug have together?

5. How does Mr.’s attitude change after Shug moves in?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Sofia end up in jail?

2. How do Carrie and Kate react when they meet Celie for the first time?

3. How do Mr. and Celie come to be married?

4. How does Celie try to protect Nettie from Pa?

5. How many children does Celie give birth to, and what happens to them?

6. How does Shug Avery come to live in Celie’s house, and how does Celie feel about this?

7. What obsessive behavior does Harpo start, and what does this suggest about his character?

8. How does Harpo’s juke joint fare when it first opens?

9. How does Celie come to own her very first dress, and what does it look like?

10. What happens when Harpo and Sofia see each other for the first time at the juke joint?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Celie’s relationship with Shug. How does it grow and change over the course of the novel? Would you consider them more like sisters or lovers? Why? What is the difference between these two types of relationships? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the epistolary structure of the novel. What are the benefits of constructing a novel of letters? What are the benefits of this style? What are the drawbacks? How does the structure inform the characters, particularly Celie’s, growth? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

Compare / contrast Celie’s family life at the beginning of the novel and the end of the novel. What causes the major changes that affect Celie’s life? Do you think the ending whitewashes the effects of the abuse and trauma Celie suffered? Why or why not? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 924 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample