Characters
Where do Twyla and Roberta first meet?
At St. Bonny’s shelter and orphanage
What major social issue is explored throughout the story?
Racial tension in society
Who is Maggie in the story?
A disabled woman that works in the kitchen at St. Bonny’s
What point of view is the story told from?
First person P.O.V through Twyla’s narration
Why are Twyla and Roberta placed at St. Bonny’s?
Their mothers are unable to take care of them
Which character’s mother is described as dancing all night?
Twyla’s
What role does class and wealth play in the women’s adult lives?
Differences in lifestyle and opportunity throughout the girls' lives
What do Twyla and Roberta remember differently about Maggie?
Her mistreatment, her race, and what happened to her
How does the nonlinear timeline affect the story?
It shows how the characters and their memories change over time
What happens when the girls meet each other again at the diner years later?
Roberta acts distant and unfriendly towards Twyla
Which character eventually becomes wealthier as an adult?
Roberta
How does the story explore prejudice and stereotypes?
Through the characters judgements and conflicts
What emotions are connected to Maggie later in the story?
Shame and guilt
Why is Twyla considered a limited narrator?
She only sees the story, or her life, through her own thoughts and experiences
During which social conflict do Twyla and Roberta end up on opposite sides?
School integration and busing conflicts
Why do Twyla and Roberta never fully understand each other?
Differences in race, class, and perspective
How can readers’ own biases affect how they see the characters?
It affects which character they see as black or white
Why do Twyla and Roberta feel guilty when discussing Maggie as adults?
They never helped Maggie even though she was vulnerable
How does Morrison encourage readers to question stereotypes?
By never revealing the race of the two girls
How does Roberta’s lifestyle change later in life?
She becomes wealthy and socially successful
How does the relationship between Twyla and Roberta change throughout the story?
It shifts between friendship, distance, tension, and understanding
Why is race important in the story even though Morrison never reveals the characters’ races?
It forces readers to explore their own stereotypes
What does Maggie’s inability to speak symbolize?
Powerlessness and themes of being ignored in society
What effect does first-person narration have on readers?
The readers experience the story through Twyla’s thoughts and uncertainties
How does the story end emotionally between the two women?
Lots of unresolved tension and uncertainty