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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 did Oceola's mother do in the new city?

2. What did Oceola's mother do for a living?

3. What is the occupation of the person who recommends Oceola to Mrs. Ellsworth?

4. How many children does Mrs. Ellsworth have?

5. Where does Mrs. Ellsworth live?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mrs. Ellsworth do when she hears Oceola's response to her suggestion about Harlem?

2. Describe the setting of "The Blues I'm Playing."

3. What information causes Mrs. Ellsworth to become disgruntled after her investigation into Oceola's boarder?

4. What information startles Mrs. Ellsworth during Oceola's personal narration of her life?

5. How did Oceola support herself before she met Mrs. Ellsworth?

6. What does Oceola find in Paris?

7. How is Oceola brought to Mrs. Ellsworth's attention?

8. Describe Oceola Jones.

9. What does Mrs. Ellsworth reply when Oceola sings, "I'd go up on de mountain/And call my baby back" at the end of the story?

10. How does Mrs. Ellsworth find out more about Oceola's relationship with the boarder in section 3 of the story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Symbolism is a device used in many literary pieces, including "The Blues I'm Playing." What symbols are in the story, and what do they mean? Which characters are associated with certain symbols? What do Mrs. Ellsworth and Oceola symbolize? Make sure you answer each question and use examples from the story to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Beauty is a theme that resonates throughout "The Blues I'm Playing," and it means different things to different people. To Mrs. Ellsworth, beauty comes in the form of art and their creators but the lines between the two become blurred sometimes. Others may find beauty in life itself. How does Mrs. Ellsworth view beauty? How does Oceola view beauty? Does Mrs. Ellsworth find more beauty in art or the artist? Make sure you answer all the questions and support your answers with evidence from the story.

Essay Topic 3

Music is the thread that weaves this story together. Mrs. Ellsworth prefers classical music to jazz and the blues. Oceola plays what she feels because music is something that is woven into her life, not compartmentalized the way Mrs. Ellsworth sees it. What do the blues and jazz mean to Oceola? What do they mean to Mrs. Ellsworth? Describe how Mrs. Ellsworth and Oceola differ in their views on how music should play a role in their lives. Make sure you answer each question and use examples from the story to support your answer.

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This section contains 602 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample