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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 does Basil tell Mattie?

2. In what state did Mattie grow up?

3. Who is the only boy Mattie's father approves of spending time with Mattie?

4. What season is it when Mattie Michael moves into Brewster Place?

5. What does Mattie name her newborn son?

Short Essay Questions

1. How has Mattie evolved to become the wise, loving matriarch of Brewster Place?

2. What is the sadness of Mattie's life as far as Basil, the man, is concerned?

3. What is Mattie's legacy to generations of women who will come after her?

4. Explain how Kiswana's mother tries to show Kiswana what it means to be a strong black woman.

5. What are the personality characteristics of Brewster Place?

6. Explain Mattie's pain at the realization of Basil's cruelty toward her.

7. What is Mattie's father's role in her life?

8. Who is the author of this book?

9. How does Mattie show more maturity even though she is younger than Etta?

10. What is Cora Lee's background?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the prevalent themes in the book is baptism. Cite at least three examples that support this theme and explain why they do.

Essay Topic 2

Mattie has had only three men important to her life and they all claimed to love her but ended up wounding her. Explain why Mattie's pain kept her from seeking out any other male relationships in her life.

Essay Topic 3

How does Mattie unwittingly create in Basil the type of man who will hurt women including herself? Do you think she knows what she did wrong? Do you think she would change anything about raising Basil if she could do it all over again?

(see the answer keys)

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