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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The King of Dahomey, on whose behalf Cudjo was captured and sold into slavery, is said to have maintained an army of how many people?

2. The well from which Cudjo draws his water at his Alabama home lies between two rows of what type of crop?

3. What body of water borders the land on which the barracoons housing Cudjo and other slaves stood?

4. What type of fruit does Hurston bring to Cudjo at the start of Chapter II?

5. At what time does Hurston arrive at Cudjo's house at the start of Chapter II?

Short Essay Questions

1. What methods of deception are used by the men at the helm of the Clotilde when Cudjo is aboard the ship?

2. In the story Cudjo tells about a murderer in his African village, what reason does the murderer give for his actions when he is questioned?

3. Explain the customs followed by the wives of a deceased man in Cudjo's former African community.

4. Cudjo discusses a particular practice undertaken by rich men's daughters in his former community in Africa. What is that practice he describes?

5. What is Zora Neale Hurston's purpose for including a photograph of a doorway just prior to the Preface of Barracoon?

6. What is Cudjo's reaction when Hurston calls him Kossula?

7. What is the custom Cudjo describes that involves the whiskers of a leopard?

8. What reason does Cudjo give for having another visitor the first day Zora Neale Hurston comes to interview him at his home?

9. What does Cudjo say about secrecy within his former community in Africa?

10. After Cudjo tells Hurston about his grandfather, what happens to make Hurston cut their visit short for the day?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the significance of three of Barracoon’s main symbols. How do these symbols connect to the overall themes within the text?

Essay Topic 2

How do Cudjo and Zora Neale Hurston use sensory details in order to paint a vivid portrait of anecdotes and details outlined within the narrative of Barracoon? Discuss at least two scenes that include use of sensory details and pull quotes from these scenes to support your claim.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's and interviewee’s use of Aristotle's appeals within the book Barracoon. How do Zora Neale Hurston and her interviewee Cudjo use each of the three appeals to persuade the reader of argumentative points central to the tenets of the work?

(see the answer keys)

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