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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 shade of black does John say he and his siblings are?

2. What is the Homewood Avenue neighborhood?

3. What does John say he likes seeing at the prison?

4. Why does Jamila think Robby should be out of prison?

5. What does John say about entering and leaving the prison?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does John characterize the freedom gained by escaping from a situation or place?

2. Describe the style and format of 'Brothers and Keepers'.

3. Describe John's visit with Robby.

4. What does John say Jamila knows of Robby?

5. What kind of blackness was expected of John in college?

6. How does John treat the prisoners?

7. How does John say Robby changed his mother?

8. How does John characterize Robby's temperament?

9. How does John characterize the waiting room?

10. How does John say he and his family are treated at the penitentiary?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast John and Robby. How are they similar? How are they different? In what way are they one man? In what way are they two very different men?

Essay Topic 2

Who is the ideal audience for "Brothers and Keepers"? What kinds of lessons does it teach, and what kind of life and ideas does it describe? Who would this account appeal to? What kinds of courses would this book be perfect for? Where else could it be added to a curriculum?

Essay Topic 3

How has American culture changed since Wideman wrote his book? Research the incarceration of blacks and describe what has changed, if anything, in the system Wideman describes.

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