Characters
This is the protagonist who writes letters addressed to God.
Who is Celie?
The novel is primarily told through these.
What is letters?
A central theme where women support and empower one another.
What is sisterhood?
Purple symbolises this.
What is joy, beauty, and attention to the good things in everyday life?
The first‑person letter form is known as this.
What is epistolary narration?
This jazz/blues singer catalyzes Celie’s awakening and becomes a mentor and partner.
Who is Shug Avery?
Nettie travels to this continent as a missionary.
What is Africa?
Celie’s arc traces the recovery of this (sorry, difficult question).
What is self‑worth?
This collaborative domestic art symbolizes community and storytelling among women.
What is quilting?
The move from letters to God to letters to Nettie represents this shift.
What is a move from isolation to connection?
Celie’s sister whose letters reveal life in Africa.
Who is Nettie?
Nettie travels to this continent as a missionary.
What are Nettie’s letters?
The novel critiques this system of male authority.
What is patriarchy?
Celie’s letters function as this for her identity.
What is a vehicle for self‑expression/voice?
The novel’s grammar and diction reflect this variety of English associated with Black American communities.
What is African American Vernacular English (AAVE)?
Celie’s abusive husband, often written as Mr. ____.
Who is Albert?
After moving to Memphis, Celie starts a business making this garment.
What are trousers?
Celie’s spirituality shifts toward the idea that the divine is present in everyday life—this concept.
What is an immanent/pantheistic view of God?
The shift in naming (Mr. ____ vs. first names) signals this change.
What is reclaiming change in power?
Presenting Nettie’s letters alongside Celie’s creates this structural device.
What is a dual/parallel narrative?
This character’s refusal to be beaten becomes a model of resistance for Celie.
Who is Sofia?
Near the end, the narrative culminates in this family event.
What is Celie’s reunion with Nettie and her children?
The book explores the intersection of these two forms of oppression.
What are racism and sexism?
Shug’s music serves as this kind of force, enabling memory, connection, and healing.
What is a liberating/catalytic force?
Alice Walker coined this term for a Black feminist perspective centered on Black women’s experiences.
What is womanism?