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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. Who is the father’s of Celie’s baby?

2. How does Mr. encourage Harpo to keep his wife in line?

3. What does Harpo start have nightmares about after meeting Sofia?

4. What does Celie feel so guilty about that she struggles to sleep at night?

5. How do Celie’s sisters-in-law feel about her housekeeping skills?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Olivia and where does Celie meet her?

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. Why does Sofia decide to leave Harpo, and how does he react to the news?

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

10. Why does Celie have trouble sleeping when she thinks about Harpo and Sofia’s relationship?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the coming-of-age ritual Tashi partakes in at her village. In what ways is Tashi’s coming-of-age story similar to Celie’s? What symbolism can be found in Tashi’s scars, and how does the novel suggest that scars, both physical and emotional, are healed? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

All throughout her life, Shug struggles to commit to those she loves – from Mr. to Grady to Germaine to Celie, and even to her children. What has caused Celie to avoid close relationships? Choose two of her relationships and discuss why she might have pushed this person away and how her rejection affected her jilted lover. Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

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