Song of Solomon

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-book review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Why does Macon II sit outside Pilate’s house, listening to the women sing?

A) They remind him of the fields, wild turkey, and calico of his childhood.

B) They make him feel as if he is still connected to his people through Pilate.

C) They cement his anger toward Pilate, his disappointment, and his rejection of her.

D) They make him jealous that his family doesn’t spend time together like this.

2. Why is it significant that Pilate feeds Milkman and Guitar eggs?

A) An egg symbolizes rebirth, and Pilate hopes to heal her relationship with Macon II.

B) An egg symbolizes a cycle, and Pilate understands that Milkman is becoming his father.

C) An egg symbolizes rejuvenation, and Pilate hopes to regain her lost youth.

D) An egg symbolizes life, and Pilate protects Milkman’s life as his father protected hers.

3. Why does Macon II feel grudging pride when Milkman physically attacks him?

A) Macon II has always felt guilty about hitting Ruth; now, he is glad someone has the strength to stop him.

B) Macon II has always viewed his son as belonging to women. Now, he views Milkman as a man.

C) Macon II feels protective of his daughters and is happy for them to see how a man should act regarding women.

D) Macon II worries that his son is weak and vulnerable and is relieved to learn that he has power.

4. Why does the word “gratitude” in Milkman’s letter upset Hagar?

A) Hagar knows Milkman means to say “ingratitude.”

B) Gratitude does not show respect for Hagar’s wholehearted love.

C) Milkman insults Hagar with his warmth at their parting.

D) Gratitude can never be expressed through a monetary gift.

5. Why does Hagar hesitate during her attack on Milkman?

A) She understands that he wants to die.

B) She fears getting a beating from Pilate.

C) She is defeated by his refusal to engage.

D) She recognizes Reba’s behavior in herself.

6. How does Guitar describe the treatment of Black and Indigenous people by white people?

A) Genocide

B) Final judgment

C) Murder

D) Payback

7. What is the significance of Macon I’s ghost words to Pilate: “Sing. Sing.”?

A) The “Sugarman” song should accompany the deaths of all flying men.

B) Macon I is linked to his children, Pilate and Macon II, through song.

C) Pilate, like others in her family, has been misinterpreting the past.

D) Pilate and Macon II have differing views of their deceased father.

8. What does the peacock symbolize?

A) The destiny of a son following his father

B) The inability to fly beyond one’s flaws

C) The vanity of women

D) The cage of love and marriage

9. What do the artificial roses mean for the Dead sisters?

A) Love

B) Marriage

C) Life

D) Death

10. In Part 2, what is Milkman’s real quest?

A) To find the missing links in his family story

B) To meet Circe and her dogs

C) To avenge his grandfather’s death

D) To give his grandfather a proper burial

11. Why do the old men invite Milkman to hunt after his beating?

A) They feel sorry for him.

B) They plan to attack him in the woods.

C) They have joined Guitar’s plan.

D) They respect his willingness to take a beating.

12. What is Susan Byrd’s and Grace’s concern with “passing”?

A) Grace commends Susan’s cousin John for “passing” as a white person.

B) They have different beliefs about light-skinned Black people who “pass” for white.

C) Grace comments that no one in Milkman’s family could ever “pass” for white.

D) They respect the choices of all people regarding skin color and identity.

13. Why is it important to Pilate to announce that Hagar “was loved”?

A) She fears the community will judge her harshly for not saving Hagar from men.

B) She worries that she will lose Reba to the same fate, leaving her alone in the world.

C) She echoes Guitar’s words about the importance of love within the Black community.

D) She thinks the event will drive a bigger wedge in her relationship with Macon II.

14. Why is it significant that Solomon dropped Jake?

A) Black children must learn to fly on their own.

B) Black fathers are locked in a cycle of abandonment.

C) Love is not enough to break the cycle of abandonment.

D) One child cannot be given advantages over their siblings.

15. Why is a list of Black men’s names included in Chapter 15?

A) Black men’s names help to explain their behavior toward women and children.

B) Black men should reject any names bestowed by white men.

C) Black men should work to recover their original names.

D) Black men’s names reflect their status as witnesses to Black history.

Long Answer

Compose a 2–3 sentence response, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. What is the relationship between Song of Solomon and the allusions to fairy tales such as “Hansel and Gretel” and historical events such as the murder of Emmett Till?

2. What is Guitar’s real motive in acting against Milkman?

3. What does Milkman mean when he says that “without ever leaving the ground,” Pilate “could fly”?