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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 is Bynum's reaction when Seth suggests a Juba?

2. When will Selig come again?

3. How much does Seth figure out Selig owes him for six pots, subtracting what Seth owes Selig?

4. What does Bynum say he has a woman in?

5. What does Seth say was Martha's job, when Bynum first came to the rooming house?

Short Essay Questions

1. What problem does Seth foresee for Jeremy, and what does Seth suggest as a solution?

2. Describe what Bynum tells Jeremy about touching.

3. To what does Seth attribute Selig's ability to find people?

4. What does Bynum describe his father doing that made a fuss?

5. What reason does Bynum give for why he doesn't think Herald Loomis is a gambler?

6. How does Jeremy and Mattie's relationship progress?

7. What does Jeremy say happened to cause him to be arrested?

8. Why does Jeremy not want to enter a guitar-playing contest?

9. Explain the metaphor that Bynum tells to Jeremy to teach him about relationships.

10. What is Jeremy's initial reaction to Molly Cunningham?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the meaning of Eugene's pigeons in the play.

1) Why does Reuben keep Eugene's pigeons instead of setting them free? Why might Eugene want the pigeons set free after his death?

2) Why does Seth's mother's ghost come and force Reuben to free the pigeons?

3) What symbolism do the pigeons have in Bynum's rituals?

Essay Topic 2

Though black slaves have been freed, the characters in the play still experience oppression. Discuss oppression in the play.

1) How is Jeremy oppressed, both when he is arrested and when he is fired from his job? What forces make this oppression possible?

2) Does Seth experience oppression or prejudice? Does his lack of backing in his metalworking plan and his relationship with Selig indicate any prejudice?

3) Is Bertha's story of how Selig makes money finding people credible? What significance does it have?

4) What forces in society lead to oppression of the characters in the story?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss hope in the story.

1) Why do the freed slaves come north to Pittsburgh? What does Seth think and say about their hope for a new life? How accurate is Seth's opinion?

2) Do the characters have hope during the play? Do any of the characters, such as Loomis, Jeremy, or Mattie, gain hope? What do they hope for?

3) What role does hope play in life and happiness in the play? Is hope helpful or harmful?

(see the answer keys)

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