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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 Mr. encourage Harpo to keep his wife in line?

2. What is Shug’s occupation?

3. What interesting household task is Sofia completing when Celie visits to speak to her about Harpo?

4. Why does Harpo refuse to help Celie out around the house?

5. How does Celie react when Mr. returns home after his frolic with Shug?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. How does Sofia end up in jail?

6. What is unique about the novel’s style, which is made apparent within the first few pages?

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

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

9. What lesson does Shug teach Celie about her sexuality?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of spousal abuse. What are the effects of abuse, specifically on women and gender roles? How does the reader see the cycle of abuse, particularly through Harpo’s character? What message is Walker sending about spousal abuse by making Mr. and Celie friends at the end of the novel? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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This section contains 911 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample