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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 discovered the body?

2. Who is arrested for murder?

3. How does Mary punish Samson for stealing?

4. Of what was Mary doomed to be the subject?

5. What does Mary take for granted about Samson?

Short Essay Questions

1. What spoiled Mary's happiness with her single life?

2. Describe Mary's social life.

3. Describe Mary's background and early childhood.

4. How does Dick feel now that Mary is at the farm?

5. What type of store does Dick build on the farm? What does Mary think about it?

6. Why is it strange that no one discusses the murder?

7. What did people in Lobengula's kingdom do when they commit a crime? What is the custom for talking about African history?

8. How does Mary change Dick's house? How does Dick feel about this?

9. Describe Mary's attempt to return to her old job and leave Dick.

10. How does Mary feel as she and Dick pull up to the farm?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay that tells the life story of Mary Turner and describes her downward spiral into depression, insanity, and her eventual death. Be sure to address:

1) Major symbols and themes in Mary's life.

2) Mary's relationship with and attitude towards other people and the world around her.

3) The personality traits that define Mary's life and death.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay providing the historical context for THE GRASS IS SINGING by Doris Lessing. Be sure to address:

1) Evidence from the text that provides the time setting for the novel.

2) Major historical events of the novel's time period.

3) How the attitudes and ideals of white culture, especially in regards to other races, have changed since the time period of the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay explaining why you think Moses sought revenge upon Mary. Be sure to draw upon evidence from the text and add your own ideas.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 894 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample