The Bluest Eye - Autumn (Chapter 1) Quiz

Questions and Answers

Who is the narrator for this chapter?

Claudia

What does the passage tell the reader about Claudia's home life?

Claudia has a really difficult home life because her family are servants and they are poor.

Who is Mr. Henry Washington?

Mr. Henry Washington is the roomer who is going to stay with them.

What literary term is used when the narrator writes, 'Even after what came later, there was no bitterness in our memory of him'?

Symbolism and a bit of foreshadowing Signup and view all the answers

Why does Pecola come to live with Claudia and Frieda?

Pecola's father was probably sent to jail and her family was having a difficult time. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Claudia describe 'outdoors' as the 'real terror of life'?

Because there's nowhere to go and you are not fully safe. Signup and view all the answers

How do Claudia and Frieda feel about Pecola?

They try to make her feel welcomed and stop fighting with each other. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Claudia hate Shirley Temple?

She hates Shirley Temple because she danced with Bojangles. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Claudia want to dismember her doll?

Because it didn't bring her a pleasurable memory and she wanted to see what it was made of. Signup and view all the answers

What does Claudia want for Christmas?

To sit on the low stool in Big Mama's kitchen with her lap full of lilacs. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Pecola drink three quarts of milk all in one day?

Because she really likes the Shirley Temple cup. Signup and view all the answers

What evidence is there in this chapter that Pecola's parents are disinterested in their daughter's well-being?

Pecola's father was released from prison and her mother hasn't come looking for her. Signup and view all the answers

What does Claudia tell the reader about Saturdays and Sundays?

She finds the weekends boring and dislikes them because of her mother's nagging. Signup and view all the answers

Find an example of a simile in this chapter.

'Saturdays sat on my head like a coal scuttle.' Signup and view all the answers

How does Claudia's opinion of Pecola change after Pecola begins menstruating?

Claudia is shocked but amazed because Pecola is entering womanhood. Signup and view all the answers

What does Pecola's question about love reveal about her home life?

It reveals that Pecola's parents never showed deep affection or attention to her. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chapter Summary: Autumn in "The Bluest Eye"

Claudia serves as the narrator, providing vivid descriptions of her home, which she characterizes as old, cold, and green, illuminated only by a kerosene lamp.
Claudia reflects on her painful home life, noting a blend of hardship alongside a sense of love, likened to the sweetness of Alaga syrup present in their household.
Mr. Henry Washington is introduced as a roomer; his nickname for Claudia and Frieda, Greta Garbo and Ginger Rogers, evokes giggles from the girls.
The phrase "no bitterness in our memory of him" suggests both symbolism and foreshadowing regarding complicated relationships and unacknowledged traumas.
Pecola moves in with Claudia and Frieda due to her father's incarceration, highlighting the family's struggle and the threat of homelessness for Pecola.
Claudia views the outdoors as a source of terror, embodying unpredictability and danger, contrasting their limited sense of safety inside the home.
Claudia and Frieda welcome Pecola into their home, trying to offer her a sense of belonging, thus putting aside their usual squabbles.
Claudia harbors animosity toward Shirley Temple, whose popularity isolates her as Pecola and Frieda admire the star, indicating potential future conflicts among the girls.
Claudia's desire to dismantle her white doll stems from the absence of enjoyable memories associated with it; she seeks to uncover its desirability.
For Christmas, Claudia yearns for simple pleasures such as sitting with Big Mama in a warm kitchen, listening to music, and enjoying lilacs and peaches.
Pecola's consumption of three quarts of milk represented a longing for acceptance tied to the Shirley Temple cup, connecting her to feelings of love and belonging.
Evidence of Pecola's neglect by her parents is seen in her father’s recent release from prison and her mother's indifference to her well-being.
Claudia describes weekends as somber and oppressive, impacted by her mother's relentless nagging, reinforcing her discontent with these days.
A simile compares the burden of weekends to a coal scuttle on Claudia’s head, indicating how her mother's critiques weigh heavily on her.
Claudia’s view of Pecola shifts when she learns about Pecola's menstruation, marking a milestone in Pecola's development that brings feelings of awe and distance.
Pecola's question about finding love reflects her unfulfilled yearning for affection, revealing her parents' emotional neglect and her confusion about love in familial relationships.

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Description

Test your knowledge of the first chapter of 'The Bluest Eye' by Toni Morrison. This quiz focuses on the narrator, setting, and descriptive language used in the chapter. Dive into Morrison's powerful imagery and understand the themes presented in autumn.