Sula audiobook cover - A Novel

Sula

A Novel

Toni Morrison

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Society & CultureHistoryBiography & Memoir

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Sula
Setting & Context+
Character Upbringings+
Tragedies & Traumas+
Adulthood & Betrayal+
Endings & Epiphanies+
Core Themes+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
What is the origin of the name 'the Bottom' for the African American community in the novel?
  • A. It is located in the lowest, most fertile valley in Ohio.
  • B. It refers to the community's rock-bottom economic status during the early twentieth century.
  • C. It stems from a deceptive promise made by a white farmer to a slave regarding fertile land.
  • D. It was named after the foundational families who first settled the area.
Question 2 of 7
How does Eva Peace's decision regarding her addicted son, Plum, challenge traditional concepts of love?
  • A. She bankrupts the family to send him to an expensive rehabilitation center.
  • B. She ends his life by setting his room on fire, demonstrating love's capacity for both selflessness and selfishness.
  • C. She forcefully banishes him from the Bottom to protect the rest of her children.
  • D. She enables his addiction by continually purchasing heroin for him so he won't suffer withdrawals.
Question 3 of 7
What tragic secret forever alters the dynamic of Sula and Nel's childhood friendship?
  • A. They intentionally start a fire that burns down a neighbor's house.
  • B. They witness Eva killing her son Plum and vow never to tell the authorities.
  • C. Sula accidentally swings a young boy named Chicken Little into the river, where he drowns.
  • D. Sula steals money from Nel's mother to fund her escape from the Bottom.
Question 4 of 7
How does the community of the Bottom react to Sula when she returns after a ten-year absence?
  • A. They welcome her back as an educated woman who can bring progress to the town.
  • B. They view her as a pariah, blaming her for bad omens and random accidents in the town.
  • C. They are entirely indifferent to her return because the town has grown so much.
  • D. They celebrate her sexual autonomy and view her as a feminist icon.
Question 5 of 7
According to Sula's deathbed confession, what was her actual motivation for sleeping with Nel's husband, Jude?
  • A. She wanted to punish Nel for conforming to the traditional lifestyle of the Bottom.
  • B. She was deeply in love with Jude and wanted to build a life with him.
  • C. She believed Jude was a danger to Nel and wanted to lure him away from her.
  • D. She did it simply to fill a void in her psyche in that moment, without any desire to betray Nel.
Question 6 of 7
What profound realization does Sula have about death in her final moments?
  • A. She views it as a terrifying punishment for her isolating life choices.
  • B. She sees it as just another experience or 'something to do,' and smiles thinking of sharing this with Nel.
  • C. She considers it a deep tragedy because she never found the monogamous love she desired.
  • D. She sees it as an opportunity to finally apologize to the community for the pain she caused.
Question 7 of 7
What central question does Sula pose to Nel during their final conversation, challenging the moral boundaries the two women have accepted?
  • A. 'Why didn't you leave the Bottom when you had the chance?'
  • B. 'Will you ever forgive me for what I did to Jude?'
  • C. 'How do you know that you were the good one?'
  • D. 'Did you ever truly love me as a friend?'

Sula — Full Chapter Overview

Sula Summary & Overview

Sula (1973) invites you into the lives of Sula Peace and Nel Wright, childhood friends whose lives take sharply different paths. Their story explores friendship, betrayal, and identity, as well as examining life in a quiet African American town in the 1920s.

Who Should Listen to Sula?

  • Avid readers of literary masterpieces
  • Anyone interested in themes of race, gender, or identity
  • Enthusiasts of African American history and culture

About the Author: Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison was an American novelist, essayist, and teacher, known for her complex narratives about the African American experience. Among her celebrated works are Beloved and The Bluest Eye, both of which delve into themes of identity, community, and historical legacy. Morrison’s influential career culminated with her winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.

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