Curated set · answers marked
In Zora Neale Hurston's short story "Sweat," what does the white horse that appears at the end of the story symbolize, and what ultimately happens to Sykes?
AThe horse represents freedom; Sykes escapes Delia and rides away.
BThe horse signifies death; Sykes is bitten by the rattlesnake he placed in the house to kill Delia and dies.✓
CThe horse represents Delia's hard work; Sykes is forgiven by Delia and they reconcile.
DThe horse symbolizes evil; Sykes kills the snake and threatens Delia once more.
In Zora Neale Hurston's short story "Sweat," what does Sykes bring home that ultimately leads to his own demise?
AA whip
BA rattlesnake✓
CA scorpion
DA knife Sykes brings a rattlesnake home to frighten Delia, but the snake manages to escape from its container and bites Sykes fatally instead, representing a form of poetic justice.
In Zora Neale Hurston's short story "Sweat," what does the white horse that Sykes brings home ultimately symbolize, and what happens to Sykes at the end of the tale?
AIt symbolizes wealth and prosperity; Sykes escapes with Bertha.
BIt symbolizes Sykes's power over Delia; Sykes is forgiven by Delia.
CIt symbolizes Sykes's cruelty and his attempt to terrorize Delia; Sykes is fatally bitten by his own rattlesnake.✓
DIt symbolizes freedom; Sykes leaves town before the snake can harm anyone.
Rationale
Sykes intentionally brings a rattlesnake into the home to scare and ultimately injure Delia, whom he loathes. His scheme backfires when the snake escapes its crate and fatally bites Sykes instead — a moment of poetic justice that highlights the story's themes of oppression, resilience, and divine retribution.