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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. Which of Corinne’s possessions are given to Nettie after her death?

2. What does Celie place as markers over her birthparent’s graves?

3. What is the “big surprise” Shug reveals at Christmas?

4. How long does Millie let Sofia visit with her family before taking her back home?

5. Why does Harpo finally agree to let Squeak sing at his juke joint?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is rootleaf and why is it important to the Olinkans?

2. How does Celie react when she learns that Mr. has been hiding Nettie’s letters?

3. Who are Nettie and Celie’s birth parents?

4. Why does Millie think Sofia is ungrateful?

5. What is the most eye-opening experience for Nettie when she is in New York?

6. How is the outside world changing Olinka?

7. How does Pa react when Celie tells him that she knows the truth about her birth parents?

8. How has Corinne’s attitude changed toward Nettie since moving to Africa?

9. What coming-of-age ritual does Tashi partake in, and what is the reaction to her participation?

10. How does life change for Celie when she moves to Memphis?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is significant about the day that Celie and Nettie are reunited? What major obstacles did they overcome to be together again in America? How does Celie feel at the end of the novel, and what message does this send to the reader about the value of family? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Celie’s sexuality. How was she first introduced to sex, and how did that introduction affect her future relationships? What did Shug teach Celie about her sexuality, and how did this lesson change Celie for the rest of the novel? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

How is God represented in the novel? Why is it significant that Celie writes letters to him, and then abruptly stops? How are Celie and Shug’s views of God different? How do their views ultimately relate back to the novel’s title? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 922 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample