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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 sang at A'Lelia Walker's funeral?

2. Where was Hughes robbed of his money and his passport?

3. What was Bruce the chef's reaction to being fired from the Grand Duc?

4. What job did Hughes finally find once he moved to Washington D.C,?

5. Who were Pail Robeson, Florence Mills, Bessie Smith and Roland Hayes?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Hughes describe the wedding of Countee Cullen? Why was the wedding the talk of Harlem for a time? How was Hughes involved?

2. While he was still in college, how did Hughes meet the woman who was to become his patron? What story did Hughes tell about their first meeting?

3. What was hazing at Lincoln University? What kinds of things did hazing involve? What was Hughes's initiation ritual for his fraternity?

4. Who did Hughes call the "great Harlem party giver?" How did Hughes describe the parties and the hostess?

5. Why did Hughes go to Washington D.C. after landing in New York?

6. What were some of the places in Italy Hughes saw aboard the ship headed for New York? What happened to him in Valencia?

7. When an alum of the college met Hughes, how did he react to Hughes's survey concerning having black faculty at Lincoln?

8. How did Hughes's patron feel about black in America? How did this manifest itself in her relationship with Hughes?

9. What other meeting did Dr. Locke arrange for Hughes before leaving town?

10. What event brought Hughes to the South in 1927? How did he react to the South and southern cities?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hughes opened his autobiography with the line "Life is a big sea full of many fish. I let down my nets and pull" and closed it with "Literature is a big sea full of many fish. I let down my nets and pulled. I'm still pulling." Discuss these two statements and how they pertain to Hughes, his autobiography, and his life.

Essay Topic 2

Hughes titled one of the chapters in his autobiography "Distinguished Visitor." This visitor brought with him the beginnings of major fame for Hughes. Discuss the visitor and what he had to offer Hughes. Who did he introduce Hughes to that influenced his career? Why was this visitor important throughout Hughes's career?

Essay Topic 3

Hughes approached the subject of his relationship with his father over the years of his growing up in poverty. Discuss Langston Hughes's relationship with his father James. In what ways are they similar? How do their differences showcase who Langston Hughes is?

(see the answer keys)

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