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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. In the play, who claims to have left to get away from the stink of whiskey?

2. What is Brother Boxer's first name?

3. What is played as the music prologue to Act I?

4. Who says that there "ain't no age in the Lord"?

5. How did Luke know where to find Margaret?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Act II, David tells his father about some guys coming to the church. What did both David and his mother think brought the men to the church?

2. What is David's fear of staying with his mother in Act III?

3. David explains why he started playing piano in Act II. What was his explanation?

4. Why doesn't David want to go to Philadelphia?

5. In Act I, who do we discover left in the Alexander marriage?

6. When Act III begins, what have Brother and Sister Boxer and Sister Moore been doing since Odessa last saw them?

7. Why does Margaret say "God don't like liars" in Act I?

8. What gossip concerning David does Brother Boxer share with his wife and Sister Moore in Act I?

9. What jazz musicians does David compare his father to after confessing to listening to his records in Act II?

10. What happens before Luke dies in Act III?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The new refrigerator is mentioned throughout the play. In particular, Brother Boxer focuses on it, starting with "This ain't no icebox, this is a Frigidaire." What does the refrigerator symbolize?

Essay Topic 2

James Baldwin is noted for writing about African American issues during his lifetime. Although his characters in "The Amen Corner" are African American, the central theme is religion. During Act III, Margaret tells her son about "boys like you down home" and that "I seen them go down." She presents religion to her son as a way to escape this path. Do you believe Baldwin wrote about African American issues in this scene or others in "The Amen Corner"? Give examples to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Many of the characters undergo change during "The Amen Corner." Yet Odessa stays consistent in her devotion to her sister and the church. Can you name another character who remains consistent in words and actions throughout the play? Cite examples from the play to support your answer.

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This section contains 711 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample