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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. What does the narrator notice about the whites in the city?

2. Why does the narrator not tell the doctors his name after the procedure?

3. When was the introduction of the novel written?

4. What does Mr. Norton give to Trueblood?

5. Why does the narrator dump slush on a man's head?

Short Essay Questions

1. What lie does Dr. Bledsoe expect the narrator to tell?

2. What is the objective of Rev. Barbee's sermon?

3. What favor does the young Mr. Emerson do for the narrator?

4. How has the narrator ended up in the factory hospital? How is he being treated once he gets there?

5. What does Ellison mean by "benign neglect"?

6. What final action does the hospital take to ensure the narrator's silence?

7. Describe Dr. Bledsoe.

8. Why is Harlem a particularly appropriate setting for the novel?

9. Why do the people at the Men's House treat him with hostility?

10. Of what "irresponsibility" are sleepwalkers and dreamers accused?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Being invisible can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. By the end of the novel, how does the narrator intend to use his invisibility? Is the state of being invisible to the inner eye of other people something that can be changed? If so, how? If not, why not?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the symbolism of the following items: the figurine bank, the dark glasses, the briefcase, the dancing dolls, the piece of chain.

Essay Topic 3

What is illusion? Can illusion be imposed upon a person without his consent? Can illusion be chosen so effectively that a person believes his own fancies? Discuss which characters are choosing to be deluded. Is the delusion helping or hurting their cause?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 841 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample