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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. When does Miss Dawn come to August's salon to get her hair done?

2. In Chapter 4, what is August doing when Jax comes to the door?

3. What trees shade the house in Chapter 1?

4. On what base is Jax stationed in Chapter 3?

5. How much do Joan and Mya charge other kids on the base to explore their house?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Miriam do before she left North Carolina in Chapter 2?

2. How does Joan compare herself and Mya to her mother in Chapter 10?

3. What does Miriam think it will be like to go back to school?

4. In Chapter 12, what is Miriam doing?

5. Who is Jax and where is he from?

6. In 1995, what does August think after she receives the phone call from Miriam telling her that Jax hit her?

7. What is August's shop like?

8. Why does Miriam stop at an Exxon filling station in Chapter 2, and does he get what she wants?

9. What is the kitchen like in Chapter 7?

10. How do Miriam and Jax meet?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

An allusion is a figure of speech that does not directly refer to a person, place, or thing. What are some allusions in Memphis: A Novel? Why might it be difficult to decipher an allusion just by the context of a passage in a book? How do the allusions Stringfellow uses help readers’ understanding of characters or concepts?

Essay Topic 2

Mood is an element that authors use to evoke feelings in readers through the use of descriptive language. Mood is the overall feeling that readers have when reading a story. What is the overall mood of Memphis: A Novel?

Essay Topic 3

In Memphis: A Novel, some characters are more thoroughly described than others. Who are some characters that are merely named in passing or have a minor role in the novel? What is the importance of these flat characters to the story line? In what way do these characters make the main characters more colorful or interesting? When there is conflict, what type of role do these flat characters play?

(see the answer keys)

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