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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 did Oceola and her mother move after Oceola attended college?

2. What did Oceola's mother do in the new city?

3. How does Oceola feel about Mrs. Ellsworth's offer?

4. What does Mrs. Ellsworth give to meet Oceola's needs?

5. When was Oceola born?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened the last time Oceola played for Mrs. Ellsworth?

2. How does Oceola spend her days while she is under Mrs. Ellsworth's care?

3. Describe Mrs. Ellsworth.

4. What does Mrs. Ellsworth choose to see art as after her experiences with Oceola?

5. What does Mrs. Ellsworth want Oceola to do in the beginning of the story?

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

7. What does Mrs. Ellsworth say to Oceola concerning Pete at the end of "The Blues I'm Playing"?

8. How does Oceola feel about art?

9. What does the last chapter of "The Blues I'm Playing" represent?

10. What does Mrs. Ellsworth think about Oceola's situation with the boarder?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Harlem causes tension in the artist/patron relationship between Mrs. Ellsworth and Oceola. Both characters attach certain meanings to the places they prefer. Mrs. Ellsworth tries many different things to fix this problem, but she does not ever fully succeed in her efforts. Why does Mrs. Ellsworth dislike Oceola's residence in Harlem? How does Mrs. Ellsworth try to remove Oceola from Harlem, and how does Oceola respond to these actions? Make sure you answer each part of the question and use examples from the story to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Mrs. Ellsworth is one of the main characters of "The Blues I'm Playing." Describe her background and explore how her passion for art may be related to her background. Why does Mrs. Ellsworth spend so much of her time and resources? Why has she lost interest in her own life? Make sure you answer each question and use examples from the story to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 562 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample