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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 old is Celie the first time her father sexually assaults her?

2. What name did Celie sew into her daughter’s diaper before the baby was taken away from her?

3. What is Celie’s nickname for Henry Broadnax?

4. What is the name of Celie’s sister?

5. Where did Harpo meet the girl that he claims to have fallen in love with?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What changes about Harpo’s life after Sofia leaves him?

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

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

5. Why does Harpo start working in the fields, and how does he feel about it?

6. Why does Celie suddenly feel jealous of Mr. and Shug when she sees them at the juke joint?

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

8. How does Sofia end up in jail?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Celie’s sexuality. How was she first introduced to sex, and how did that introduction affect her future relationships? What did Shug teach Celie about her sexuality, and how did this lesson change Celie for the rest of the novel? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the theme of fatherhood in the novel. Which character do you think is the best father in the novel? Why? Which character do you think is the worst? In what ways can you see parenting styles, specifically fatherhood, affecting characters as they mature into adulthood? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

What is significant about the day that Celie and Nettie are reunited? What major obstacles did they overcome to be together again in America? How does Celie feel at the end of the novel, and what message does this send to the reader about the value of family? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 908 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample