4. What does Hilly announce at the League meeting in chapter 26 that officially cuts Skeeter out of her final tenuous attachment to Jackson social society?

5. Why does Pascagoula tell Skeeter in chapter 19 that no one would work for her mother except her?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Celia tell her husband, Johnny Foote, that prompts him to tell Minny she will have a job for life in chapter 30?

2. With whom does Skeeter and her parents have dinner in chapter 20? What happens between Skeeter and Stuart during this evening?

3. In chapter 22, it is Mae Mobley's birthday. What kind of cake does Aibileen want to make? Why? What kind does Elizabeth Leefolt insist on Aibileen making?

4. Who has Skeeter started dating in chapter 19? Why does she refuse to go to Biloxi with him?

5. Why does Minny feel that Celia Foote does not understand the line between whites and blacks?

6. What does Dr. Neal tell Skeeter in chapter 28 that her mother is suffering? What are her prospects?

7. Hilly Holbrook wins Minny's chocolate pie in the silent auction at the Benefit. Who bid on the pie for Hilly? Who does she think bid on it for her?

8. In chapter 18, Minny finds Celia in the bathroom of her bedroom. What has happened to Celia? How does this explain her odd behavior since Minny came to work for her?

9. What does Minny insist on adding to her section of the book? For what reason?

10. How are most of the women at the Benefit dressed? How does Celia Foote stand out?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Skeeter make it Aibileen's job to ask other maids to help with their book? How many does Aibileen ask? How many initially agree to help? What causes the reaction Aibileen receives from the other maids? What does Aibileen tell the reader a white woman might do to a maid who speaks out about their treatment in a private home? What impact could this situation cause to a maid and her family? Why does Aibileen not fear these consequences?

Essay Topic 2

Why does Minny think Celia is crazy? What does Celia spend her days doing? How is this different from the behavior of the other women Minny has worked for? Why does Celia escape into the second floor of her home several times a day? What does Minny think she is doing up there? What is Celia really doing up there? What is the cause of Celia's odd behaviors? Why do none of the women in Jackson accept Celia into their social circle? What does Celia believe the problem is? How does she go about fixing it? What happens? What story does Minny tell Celia that appears to help her understand the women of Jackson better?