View a FREE sample

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 subject of the painting that Ruth gives Jess for Christmas?

2. What is Jess' male name?

3. How much money does Jess have when she arrives in New York City?

4. Who inadvertently refers to Jess as "she" at a union meeting?

5. What opportunity does Duffy offer Jess?

Short Essay Questions

1. What changes does Jess see in herself after taking male hormones and how does she know she has passed as a male?

2. What precipitates Jess' move to New York City?

3. Ruth paints Jess' bedroom that serves as a metaphor for who they are. Describe what it is and why it is a metaphor.

4. What are the positive and negative points about passing as a man according to Jess?

5. What is the role of food in Chapter 22?

6. Why does Edna say that Jess is a "granite" butch?

7. What happens at a wedding that lets Jess know that she cannot continue a relationship with Annie?

8. What is the significance of the apartment fire to Jess?

9. Describe the conditions of factories in the 1970s, which is ten years after Jess has been working in them.

10. Why is Jess confused about Grant's reasons to take male hormones?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the overall setting for the novel. Why does Feinberg use the setting she does? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the characters?

Essay Topic 2

Create a character study of Jess. What are her physical characteristics? What are her motivations? What are her fears? What are her dreams? What else can you say about Jess?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the significance of the novel's title STONE BUTCH BLUES. Why did Feinberg choose this title? Is there an understood message in the title? Is there another title you can suggest that might be more appropriate?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,097 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample