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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. Why did Nettie decide to move out of Mr.’s house?

2. Where do Mary Agnes and Grady live?

3. Who buys the Olinka land, threatening to take everything away from the villagers?

4. How does Corinne die?

5. How old is Pa’s new wife?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is rootleaf and why is it important to the Olinkans?

2. Why was Shug so mean to Celie when she first moved in?

3. How is the outside world changing Olinka?

4. Why is Sofia’s mother’s funeral unusual?

5. Who are Nettie and Celie’s birth parents?

6. What is the “surprise” that Shug brings home for the family at Christmas, and how does Mr. react?

7. How has Grady’s life changed since moving to Memphis?

8. Who is Germaine, and how does Celie feel about him?

9. How does Shug picture God?

10. How did Nettie come to live in Africa?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 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)

This section contains 880 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample