Study Questions and Essay Topics
Study Questions
1. Why is Ellen's
grandmother so cruel to her? How does this make Ellen question herself?
What prompts her to accuse Ellen of killing her mother?
2. How does Ellen's
friendship with Starletta change over the course of the two years
the novel takes place. Why does this transformation occur? How does
it manifest itself?
3. How is Ellen
affected by her relationship with her grandmother? How does her
stay there change Ellen, and what does it reveal about her character?
Suggested Essay Topics
1. How does Ellen's time spent
working on her grandmother's field with the black workers alter
her views on racism? Why does she say she could pass for a "colored
person?"
2. Why does Ellen admire Mavis's
and Starletta's families?
3. How does Ellen reveal her
precocity? How does she mature throughout the course of the novel?
4. Why is Ellen so glad that
she does not believe in Santa Claus? How does this act as an indicator
of her maturity? How is it sad?
5. Why does Ellen blame herself
for her mother's death? What reason does she give for not wanting
her grandmother to die?
