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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. Who hates the current Johnson house as well as the old Johnson house?

2. When Dee says "It's really a new day for us" at the end of the story, to whom is she referring?

3. To whom does Ms. Johnson always talk "With one foot raised in flight" and her head turned in whatever direction is farthest from them?

4. How does Maggie react when Dee's companion moves forward to hug her?

5. Who learns to quilt from Grandma Dee and Aunt Dicie/Big Dee?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Dee's light skin and her white heel symbolize?

2. Why doesn't Dee think Maggie deserves their mother's two hand-stitched quilts?

3. What references to racial prejudice are there in "Everyday Use?"

4. What is Aunt Dicie/Big Dee's role in "Everyday Use?"

5. Who is the protagonist of "Everyday Use" and what identifies that character as the protagonist?

6. Describe John Thomas and his role in the story.

7. Which character in "Everyday Use" is a foil character and what helps identify that character as a foil character?

8. Is there any significance to the fact that neither Ms. Johnson's marital state nor Dee's are revealed in "Everyday Use?"

9. Describe Dee's relationship with Jimmy T and what it indicates about her.

10. What is revealed about Aunt Dicie/Big Dee in "Everyday Use" even though she doesn't appear onstage?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the references to church and religion in "Everyday Use." Give at least three examples of how religion is used in the text. What do you think Alice Walker is saying about the influence of religion on southern Black culture and on African American culture in general?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the characters of Maggie, Dee/Wangero, and Mrs. Johnson in "Everyday Use." Which sister do you think is most like their mother and why? Which character or characters do you think represent southern Black culture? Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

The Johnson family's quilts are a recurring motif throughout "Everyday Use." Cite three examples from the text of the use of this motif and discuss what you think it represents in each example.

(see the answer keys)

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