Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What does Baldwin say is the hatred symbol of Harlem?
2. Who is the author of Native Son?
3. Why does Baldwin criticize the cleanliness of the Carmen Jones movie set?
4. Where did the Melodeers room while in Atlanta?
5. According to Baldwin, at what point does the making of an American begin?
Short Essay Questions
1. Describe how Baldwin's Harlem compares to his parent's Harlem.
2. Describe the appearance and the role of Mrs. Branson Price.
3. In the essay entitled Everybody's Protest Novel, why does Baldwin use the first person narrative perspective?
4. Describe the Swiss village that Baldwin visits in the essay Stranger in the Village.
5. Why is it important to examine the myths about African Americans in order to discover what it means to be a "Negro in America"?
6. Why do you think Baldwin decided to reveal his own personal reflections in the chapter entitled Notes of a Native Son?
7. Why were the Melodeers performing in the south?
8. According to Baldwin, how do white Americans react to the American Negro's presence in Paris?
9. Why did ex-GIs question their identity while studying in Paris?
10. What did Baldwin determine is the main similarity that the American Negro and the French Negro share?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Baldwin writes about the struggle for African Americans to find their own identity in the United States. Based on Baldwin's essays, do you think African Americans will be able to find their identity as American citizens or will they always have to "escape" in order to try to find their identity? Please use examples from the book to support your answer.
Essay Topic 2
The purpose of Baldwin's essays is to analyze, understand and deal with racial prejudice. Choose one or two of Baldwin's essays and discuss how the essay incorporates this purpose of analysis, understanding, and dealing with racial prejudice. Please use examples from the book to support your answer.
Essay Topic 3
In the essay Notes of a Native Son, Baldwin uses his personal experience to describe his life as a native son. How does Baldwin's personal account as a Native Son compare to his summary and criticism of the book Native Son in the essay Many Thousands Gone? Does his account address the issues he had with the original story? Please use examples from the book to support your answer.
This section contains 1,098 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |