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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. How does Celie react to the news that Shug Avery is coming to town?

2. What does the term “bright” mean to Harpo?

3. What does Harpo blame for his strange bruises?

4. What does Sofia worry about Harpo doing too much?

5. What part of Harpo’s body does Celie notice is changing due to his excessive habit?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What happens when Squeak tries to convince the warden to let Sofia out of jail early?

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

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

5. How does Mr. react when Nettie comes to live with him, and why does she end up leaving?

6. What brings on Celie’s terrible beating from Pa after church?

7. How does Harpo react to the news that Sofia’s father doesn’t think he’s good enough for her?

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

9. How does Mr.’s family feel about having Shug in the house?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Celie’s life change when she moves to Memphis? How does her relationship with Shug change, and what does she realize about herself when Shug is on tour? How do the townsfolk react when Celie returns home for Sofia’s mother’s funeral? What is significant about their reaction? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

What is sewing a symbol for in the novel? Why is it significant that Celie and Sofia sew a quilt together after Shug moves in? What does the diversity of a patchwork quilt suggest about the relationships in the novel, particularly the female relationships? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

How is God represented in the novel? Why is it significant that Celie writes letters to him, and then abruptly stops? How are Celie and Shug’s views of God different? How do their views ultimately relate back to the novel’s title? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

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