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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. Where is Richard making a delivery to when a policeman stops him?

2. What part of Arkansas does Maggie live in?

3. Who does Richard persuade to publish his short story?

4. What do the white youths smash into Richard's face?

5. What does Richard's mother arm him with to attack the boys?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Richard stop selling the newspaper?

2. Why does Richard continue working for the second white family, even though he dislikes them?

3. How does Richard respond when his principal demands that he reads his speech for graduation?

4. Why does Richard threaten Addie with a knife in Chapter 4?

5. Why does Richard get baptized in Chapter 6?

6. What awkward question does Richard's prospective white employer ask him?

7. Why does Richard fight his Uncle Tom?

8. Why can Richard not keep his promise to his mother not to fight white children?

9. What does the family decide is the best way to care for Richard and his brother?

10. Why does Richard leave his job in the sawmill?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why did Richard develop sympathies towards the Communist Party? How did Wright view Communist ideas later on in life?

Essay Topic 2

Examine Wright's views on religion.

1) What does he mean by religion on a emotional level?

2) What does he mean by religion on an intellectual level?

3) Why does Wright accept God on both an emotional and intellectual level? Is it the same for everyone?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the religious connotations in the book.

1) How does Wright represent black people's relationship with Christianity?

2) Why does Sue change her Christian faith for Communism?

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