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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. What action does Hurston take when she sees Cudjo's face take on the qualities of a mask during one of their conversations?

2. What is the title of Chapter VII?

3. How many plantations had the Meaher family owned together?

4. In what year did Cudjo's lawyer in the case against the railroad die?

5. Free George tells Cudjo and his friends that they ought to take what action?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of Chapter VII's title Barracoon?

2. What action does Cudjo take against the railroad company and what is the result of that action?

3. Describe a time when the sound motif appears within Cudjo's narrative.

4. After deciding to stay in America, Cudjo and his countrymen and women adopt what type of organizational structure within their community?

5. What do the three men from Dahomey say when they meet with Cudjo's king, King Akia'on?

6. How does Cudjo describe the origins of his possible engagement to a particular woman in Africa?

7. How does Cudjo react to the news that a "nice white lady in New York" (51) is interested in his story?

8. What significant event occurred on March 12, 1902?

9. Who funded Hurston's second expedition to interview Cudjo and what involvement did she come to have in Cudjo's life?

10. While Cudjo says that he tries to forgive the sheriff who shot his son Cudjo, he thinks that the man should take what action?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author's decision to faithfully represent Cudjo’s speech using his own colloquial vernacular. What purpose did she have in mind when insisting upon this condition for publication and how does this decision connect to and support the overarching themes and messages of the text?

Essay Topic 2

How does Hurston's use of the third person point of view serve her purposes over the course of the book? Discuss how Hurston’s choice of point of view at certain points within the text helps to advance her treatment of at least three particular themes within the text.

Essay Topic 3

Perform a biographical criticism of Hurston's book Barracoon by researching the author's life and work. Be sure to create a strong and specific claim focused on this particular book and then support that claim with quotes from the book and from your author research.

(see the answer keys)

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