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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 Skeeter refuse to tell her mother of her break up with Stuart?

2. Who is the Benefit to benefit?

3. What new gadget has Celia Foote bought that Minny is impressed by in chapter 30?

4. How much time has passed between chapter 28 and chapter 29?

5. What name has Aibileen chosen to use in the book she is writing with Skeeter?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Hilly tell Skeeter to publish in the League newsletter or she will throw her out of the league?

2. In chapter 28, Skeeter goes shopping and finally finds her own style. What style is that? What has inspired it?

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

4. 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?

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

6. What does Skeeter learn about Yule May in chapter 19? What does the letter from Yule May to Skeeter say? What is the result of this situation?

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

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

9. 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?

10. What is the Terrible Awful? Why does Minny tell it to Celia in chapter 26?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Minny Jackson? What does she do for a living? Why does she find herself searching for a job in the early chapters of the novel? What trouble does she run into while looking for a job? Why is this? Why does Minny blame herself for much of her job hunting trouble? Is Minny really to blame for her inability to find a job? Who does Minny serve the Terrible, Awful thing to? Why does she call it the Terrible, Awful? What did Minny do? Why did she do this? What was the consequence of this action? How does Minny feel about what she has done?

Essay Topic 2

What does Skeeter do that causes her to lose all her friends? Why did Skeeter do this? What did it prove? Did it change anything? How does Skeeter feel about this change in her social life? Is Skeeter saddened by the loss of her friends? Did Skeeter truly consider Hilly her friend? How do Aibileen and Minny feel about what has happened to Skeeter? How does this treatment of Skeeter by those in Jackson force her to make a life altering decision? How does this ousting by the social caste compare to Celia Foote's place in Jackson society? Why do you think the author felt the need to create two such parallel characters?

Essay Topic 3

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

1) Racism

2) Family

3) Social Expectations

4) Ambition versus Fear.

(see the answer keys)

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