Character Relationships
Who is related to Eva Peace?
Pearl, Plum, Hannah, Sula.
Who kills Chicken Little? Was it an accident & why?
Sula, with Nel watching. Sula accidentally throws him into deep water and he drowns.
Who is Ajax and how does Sula feel about him?
Ajax is a supporting character to help develop Sula as a character. He is one of the only people Sula had an attachment to. He refers to Nel & Sula has pigsmeat, which has a rude yet provocative connotation.
Who has the symbol of a birthmark shaped like a rose or snake?
Sula.
Where does the story of Sula take place?
Medallion, Ohio in a fictional town called The Bottom.
Who did Eva informally adopt and allowed to live in her home?
The Deweys.
How does Plum die and why?
Plum dies at the hands of Eva because she no longer wants to see him suffer and die a prolonged death from his drug addiction to heroin. She lights his bed on fire as he sleeps.
What does Mr. Finley choke on?
A chicken bone.
What is a common symbol of death that occurs more than once in the novel?
Fire or water. Natural based elements.
Where do Nel & Helene travel to?
New Orleans. This is where Nel meets Helene's mother Rochelle for the first time. She was a prostitute while Helene was growing up, and since she is from New Orleans, she does speak English as well as Creole.
Why does Helene pull on Nel's nose?
She wants to change the look of it to appear more slender.
Which characters die in Sula?
Plum, Pearl, Hannah, Sula, Chicken Little, Nel's grandmother, Mr. Finley.
Who is Jude, and how does Toni Morrison develop his character? What does he feel like he is missing in life?
Jude is Nel's husband. He feels as though he cannot find meaningful work. He ends up having an affair with Sula, which leaves Nel disconnected from both him & Sula.
How do the townspeople characterize Sula's personality?
They see her as a source of evil for the town. She destroys relationships wherever she goes. Despite this, it gives the townspeople a sense of purpose knowing they are the opposite of her.
What time period does Sula take place?
1919-1965
Which situation binds Nel & Sula together for the rest of their lives?
The death of Chicken Little.
What does Sula do when Hannah dies?
She watches her mother burn to death while she looks intrigued.
Who is Tar Baby?
He is a depressed man who is an alcoholic. His name is ironic because ironic because he is white. He is one of the first people to participate in National Suicide Day.
What do Shadrack's hands represent in the novel?
He envisions his hands growing and becomes fearful of himself. His PTSD is evident within the novel due to the horrific experiences he had in the war, such as fellow soldiers dying and losing their limbs.
Where does Teapot trip and fall, resulting in a fractured bone?
In front of Sula's house, right on her steps. Teapot's mom is neglectful and abusive, and she rarely provides him with any food, resulting in him fracturing his bones easily.
Why does Hannah feel like Eva never loved her or her siblings?
She never played with them as children.
Who dies in Nel's family where she has to go by train to New Orleans so she can attend the funeral?
Cecile, Helene's grandmother - Nel's great grandmother.
Why does Shadrack create National Suicide Day? How do his previous experiences shape him as a character?
He worries about dying, so he creates the holiday out of his own fears and insecurities. He developed PTSD after serving during WWI.
What does the gray ball symbolize in Sula?
How Nel feels about the infidelity between Sula & Jude, which severely impacts her life.
What are some micro-settings in Sula?
Beauty Salon, pool hall, ice cream parlor.