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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. Who does Richard learn that the whites have killed?

2. What city does Alan move to?

3. Who does Richard start working for?

4. What does the job include?

5. What do Wright and his co workers do to steal $200?

Short Essay Questions

1. What job does Richard find in Chapter 5?

2. What mistake does Granny make at the end of Chapter 4?

3. Why does Richard develop a bitter association between his father and hunger?

4. How does Richard's boss respond when Richard tells him he was bitten by his dog?

5. How do people respond to Richard's ambitions to become a writer in Chapter 7?

6. Why can Richard not believe in God?

7. Why does Richard fight his Uncle Tom?

8. What does Richard do after he has read his speech at graduation?

9. Why does Richard leave his job in the sawmill?

10. What does Richard think about the popular contention that black people lead passionate, emotional lives?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine black femininity.

1) In what did the whites oppress black femininity?

2) How did the white man's oppression of black femininity affect black women?

3) How have black women reacted to the oppression of their femininity?

Essay Topic 2

Look at the structure of the book.

1) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the book's ideas?

2) Examine the way Wright uses other people in the story to express his ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the values of early 20th century America

1) How did the whites view blacks in the early 20th century?

2) What significant changes do you think occurred during this period that changed the way whites viewed blacks?

3) Does today's society share any values with early 20th century America?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 728 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample