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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 is the goal of the organization?

2. Where does Macon say he will meet later with Milkman?

3. Who does Macon talk about in order to distract Milkman from his other questions?

4. Who walks into the rental office as Milkman is finishing up work?

5. What does Milkman realize as Hagar tries to kill him and fails?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Milkman is 31, what is he out doing before Christmas?

2. Why doesn't Solomon bring Jake to Africa with him?

3. What does Milkman realize when he tries to buy a present for Hagar?

4. Who are the women that sing together that have such beautiful voices?

5. What does Ruth tell her son about her own relationship with her father?

6. What are some of Milkman's first impressions of the Butler house when he arrives?

7. How does Hagar try to kill Milkman as he is lying on the couch?

8. What does Circe reveal about Macon that Milkman does not already know?

9. What is Guitar's idea for stealing the green bag from Pilate's house?

10. What is the setup of The Seven Days? How does it work?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

It's no surprise that racism plays a large role in this novel, much as it does in many of Morrison's novels.

Part 1 - What is the relationship between the blacks and the whites in "The Song of Solomon?"

Part 2 - What are some examples of racism in this novel? Name and describe at least 3.

Part 3 - Does race hurt those in the story? How so? Give at least 2 examples.

Essay Topic 2

The concept of love is a strange one in this novel as it seems to be out of proportion for the relationships that are described.

Part 1 - Describe Macon's love for Ruth.

Part 2 - Describe Ruth's love for her son and for her father.

Part 3 - Describe Hagar's love for Milkman.

Part 4 - What do these examples of love seem to indicate about the novel's ideas of love? Is love a good thing? A bad thing? A strange thing? Why?

Essay Topic 3

The songs in this book are powerful points in the story and they relay different ways the characters feel about each other and the different ways the characters are connected.

Part 1 - Give three examples of the way song is used in this novel (besides the title).

Part 2 - Describe what each of these examples of song seem to say about those who are singing and about those who are sung to.

Part 3 - Obviously, the title is an example of song as well, but why do you think this title was chosen? What is its significance? Is it a strong title? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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