Name: ____________________
Date: _____________________
Beloved Study Guide Questions
Pages 44-85
Directions: Answer all the provided study guide questions on a separate piece of paper
(not the question sheet) in complete sentences and thoroughly, where appropriate.
Part 1, Section 4
1. What is the origin of the tension between Denver, Paul D, and Sethe?
2. What is the proposal Paul D makes to Sethe? What do you make of her
response(s)?
3. What do you think is the importance of the dying roses?
4. What clues are given about race relations of the time period during the carnival?
5. What is the effect of the image of the three shadows holding hands? How does it
relate to Denver’s earlier feelings about Paul D?
Part 1, Section 5
1. Who appears in front of 124?
2. How is she described and how do you think this is significant?
3. How do Sethe and Denver react to Beloved’s arrival?
4. Why does Beloved like sugar so much?
5. Why does Denver contradict what Paul D says at the end of the chapter? How
does this influence their relationship?
Part 1, Section 6
1. How would you characterize Beloved and Sethe’s interactions/relationship?
2. What were the circumstances of Sethe and Halle’s “marriage” celebration?
3. What are Sethe’s memories of her own mother?
4. Why does her mother have a brand under her breast?
5. Why does Sethe’s mother throw away all the other babies she had?
6. What do you make of Beloved knowing about the earrings?
Part 1, Section 7
1. Why is Beloved shining and how does Paul D feel about it?
2. Why did Beloved say she came to 124?
3. Where else has Paul D been since Sweet Home?
4. How has Denver and Beloved relationship shifted?
5. What is Sethe’s reaction when she learns that Halle witnessed the incident in the
barn with schoolteacher’s nephews took her milk?
6. Why was Halle sitting with the butter all over his face? What reaction did you
have to this image?
7. What is a bit?
8. What is Paul D’s reaction to Mister, the rooster? Why?
9. What happened to the other Sweet Home men?
10. What is the tobacco tin symbolic of?
Adapted from Jane Schaffer Publications
Name: ____________________
Date: _____________________
Part 1, Section 8
1. What does Denver see when Beloved lets her head fall back?
2. Who does Denver think Beloved is at this point in the story? What do you think?
3. We learn again of Denver’s birth. Where does it take place? Why is she named
Denver?
4. Is Beloved using Denver, or does she genuinely care for her?
Adapted from Jane Schaffer Publications