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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. Sarny compares the sound of "the north" to listening to what sounds in Chapter 4?

2. What emotion does John's story about his past inspire in Mammy in Chapter 4?

3. How long does Mammy suggest that John wait before running in order to heal in Chapter 6?

4. How does Sarny describe Alice's mental state in the beginning of Chapter 4?

5. How far does Sarny say Alice made it before she was caught in Chapter 4?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Pawley die, according to the story related from Sarny in Chapter 4?

2. How does Master Waller punish Mammy in Chapter 5? How do the other slaves respond to the abuse?

3. What leads up to Alice being being whipped by Waller in Chapter 4? How is her whipping described?

4. How does Sarny describe the circumstances of the slaves in the beginning of Chapter 5?

5. What element of the novel's plot structure is seen in Chapter 5?

6. How does John describe his plans for escape to Mammy and Sarny in Chapter 6?

7. How does the relationship between Mammy and John change after John explains his past in Chapter 4?

8. Why do you think it is important for John to teach the slaves to read and write as opposed to teaching them other information?

9. What are Sarny's perceptions of Alice's whipping when she witnesses it in Chapter 4?

10. How does Waller discover that Sarny is learning to read and write in Chapter 5? How does he react?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the narrative style of Nightjohn. Who is the narrator of the story? Is the narrator involved in the action of the narrative? In what tense is the narrative related? Why do you think that the author chose this narrative style? How would the story differ if it were told from a different point of view?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and analyze the character of Clel Waller in Nightjohn. How old is Clel Waller? How would you describe Sarny’s opinions of Master Waller? How do the other slaves feel about the master? How does Waller’s character evolve in the course of the story?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the rights, roles, and expectations of women in the 18th and 19th century American South. Examine the responsibilities and roles that a figure such as Margaret Waller would play in her household and plantation. How many “house-slaves” might a family like the Wallers have? What would have been the main contribution of the slave-master’s wife? How did these roles differ for slave women?

(see the answer keys)

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