View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. On the way to Cadiz, when Equiano's ship crashes into the rocks, how does Equiano amaze everyone?

2. When Equiano sees King again, what does he find out has happened to King?

3. Where has Equiano traveled since the first edition of his Narrative was published?

4. What happens to the bulls on Farmer's last voyage?

5. What religious group does Equiano do a lot of business with in Philadelphia?

Short Essay Questions

1. What three elements of Equiano's visit with the fisherman help him decide to become a Christian?

2. Does the manumission of Equiano seem like a high point to this autobiography?

3. Compare Phillips to Farmer.

4. What is the significance of what happens to the bulls and the turkeys before the end of the voyage?

5. Why do you think Equiano goes back and forth so much between going to sea and other ways of making a living, like hairdressing?

6. How does the trip to the North Pole develop Equiano's characterization?

7. Why does Equiano want to become ordained?

8. Why does Equiano choose to go with Dr. Irving to start a plantation in Jamaica?

9. How are Equiano and Farmer each characterized by the incident with the bulls and the turkeys?

10. What are the possible conclusions about Equiano's prophetic dream about finding a boat on the return trip from Cadiz?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Historians are not certain that the details of Equiano's early life as described in the Narrative are completely accurate. In fact, many historians believe that Equiano was not born in Africa but was, instead, born a slave in North or South Carolina. Write an essay in which you explain what difference it would make to a reader's response to the book if Equiano fictionalized the details of his early life. Consider, as well, what Equiano's motivations for fictionalizing might have been.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the role of family throughout Equiano's Narrative.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast John Annis's life with Equiano's. Could Equiano have met a fate like Annis's? What enables Equiano to avoid a sad end like Annis's? Be sure to identify the turning points during Equiano's life when things might have gone differently and set him on a course more like Annis's, and explain how Equiano avoided those dangers.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,084 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample