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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. What are Yule May, Hilly Holbrook's maid, and her husband saving up for as she tells Aibileen in chapter 16?

2. What does Mrs. Leefolt tell Mae Mobley about using Aibileen's toilet in chapter 7?

3. What job did Skeeter apply before in her final days at college?

4. What is Skeeter's christian name?

5. What threat did Hilly make against Skeeter early in the novel that causes her angst in chapter 5?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Skeeter show to Aibileen in chapter 14? Why does Aibileen later show this same thing to Minny?

2. What does Celia spend most of her days doing? What is the result?

3. Who sets up the first date between Stuart Whitworth and Skeeter? How does it go?

4. Who is killed blocks from Aibileen's home? What is the aftermath of this death?

5. What does Aibileen ask of Skeeter during their sixth session together working on Skeeter's book?

6. What letter does Skeeter receive in chapter 6 that inspires her to begin searching for a writing job and to find unique topics to write about?

7. Who is Constantine? What does Skeeter think happened to her?

8. What was Treelore hoping to do before his death? How did Aibileen feel about this?

9. Why does Aibileen begin telling Mae Mobley she is a smart, kind girl?

10. What rules did Minny's mother tell her about working for a white woman? Which rule does Minny constantly break?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the style in which the author chose to write this novel. Discuss the first person point of view. What is first person point of view? How does the writer of this novel utilize this point of view in a unique way? Does this lead to confusion for the reader? In what way? How has the author structured the chapters? How does this add to or subtract from any possible confusion to the reader? Why do you suppose the writer felt it was important to tell her story in the first person point of view? What is unique about the grammar used by two of the main characters in the novel? Why do you suppose the author chose to use such grammar in her writing?

Essay Topic 2

How does the book Skeeter and Aibileen wrote reflect the time period in which the novel is written? How does the writer use actual historical events to reflect the racial tension in Jackson during the time in which the book is set and how these events impacted the lives of the main characters of this book? What might a book like The Help have impacted the lives of those really living in Jackson Mississippi during this time period? What might have been the consequences to a maid like Aibileen? What consequence does Aibileen suffer? How does the book help Aibileen have the courage and the power to stand up to Hilly? What does this say about the changes that take place in the novel for Aibileen and the other maids in Jackson?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following in an essay using examples or quotes from the novel to support your conclusions:

1) Theme

2) Structure

3) Point of View

4) Language.

(see the answer keys)

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