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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 does Harpo finally agree to let Squeak sing at his juke joint?

2. Why was Nettie allowed to join the reverend and his wife on their mission trip?

3. Who teaches Millie how to drive?

4. Why don’t the Olinka people educate their daughters?

5. How does Nettie react to the jungle surrounding Olinka?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Shug’s parents kick her out of the house when she was growing up?

2. How does Billy get hurt on the day that Celie visits Sofia at the mayor’s house?

3. Who is Mary Agnes?

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

5. How is the outside world changing Olinka?

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

7. How does Celie react to the news that Pa has died?

8. How has Corinne’s attitude changed toward Nettie since moving to Africa?

9. What is the most eye-opening experience for Nettie when she is in New York?

10. How do Tashi’s parents feel about her befriending Olivia?

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

Growing up, both Shug and Celie were told that they would amount to nothing: Celie was told she was ugly and Shug was told she was evil. How do you see these messages affecting the two women as they matured into adulthood? How did these messages ultimately bring the two women together? 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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 983 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample