The Known World Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay Questions

The 60 short essay questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text. Students must describe what they've read, rather than just recall it.

Short Essay Question - Chapter 1

1. Who dies in Chapter 1?

2. What is significant about the fact that Henry Townsend owns slaves?

3. Who was Henry Townsend's first slave?

4. Who is Augustus Townsend?

5. For whom does Elias carve a doll? What is significant about this doll?

6. Why does Robbins continually raise his asking price for Henry Townsend's freedom?

Short Essay Question - Chapter 2

7. Why does John Skiffington decide to get married in 1840?

8. Who...
(read more)