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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 do the men compare beating a woman to?

2. What does Joe think the town must do to be successful?

3. Why does Tea Cake say he will come back to visit Janie?

4. What does Janie find unattractive about her husband in Chapter 3?

5. What is the name of the family Nanny works for?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Joe Starks' appearance.

2. How do the neighborhood women seem to feel about Janie?

3. Describe how Janie behaves after Joe's death.

4. What does Janie say to Joe as he is dying?

5. What are some of the restrictions Jody places on Janie?

6. Describe the analogy Hurston uses to explain Janie's sexual awakening.

7. What are the circumstances surrounding Joe's death?

8. How does Janie feel about marrying again after Joe is gone?

9. How is death personified in Chapter 8?

10. Why is Joe so angry and embarrassed when Janie finally speaks up to him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe how the tone of the novel changes as Janie experiences highs and lows in the story.

Essay Topic 2

Explore the different symbols that are used in the book to represent Janie's situation as her story progresses -- the mule, the pear tree, etc.

Essay Topic 3

Compare current events to those that take place in Their Eyes Were Watching God, discussing the differences in social reactions to things like racism and classism.

(see the answer keys)

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