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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. Where is Lizzie supposed to meet Philip at night?

2. How does Fran react when Lizzie tells her that she has drunk a special tea to abort a baby?

3. What favor does Lizzie ask of Drayle?

4. Which of the slave women is afraid to go swimming?

5. What does Fran want to do about Nate and Rabbit?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the author address the topics of slave catchers and abolitionists?

2. Describe how the old man who was a freed slave traveling on the train to Ohio signifies the importance of freedom regardless of age?

3. Does the author bring closure to Lizzie's story at the end of the novel?

4. How is Lizzie's bondage on the ship more like a slave than a preferred mistress?

5. What does Fran's presence at the Tawawa House mean for Lizzie?

6. What spiritual connection does Mawu feel for Lizzie?

7. How does Reenie's behavior show that her life has changed dramatically for the worse in the time since she saw the other women last Summer?

8. What reasons do the other slaveholders give to Drayle for why he should free Philip?

9. Why does religion play such a big part in the lives and deaths of the slaves?

10. Why is Lizzie reminded of watching a dog die while lying in the sun after Philip is punished by Drayle?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief character study of Drayle. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are his dreams and fears? What is most valuable to him in his world?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the overall setting for the story. Why does the author use the setting she does? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the characters?

Essay Topic 3

Racial prejudice takes on an almost human persona in this book. What are the sources of prejudice in the story? What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

(see the answer keys)

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