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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 Nat found to be hiding?

2. What does Gray say was the "only principle of restraint" for the band of slaves?

3. How does Nat encounter Jeremiah Cobb the first time?

4. In Part 1, how does Gray refer to Nat?

5. What is Nat going to be tried for?

Short Essay Questions

1. At the end of the introduction, it states that the confession was read to Nat, and when asked if he had anything further to say, he said no. The rebellion was a complicated affair that involved planning. Why do you think Nat declined to say anything further?

2. By the middle of Part 1, readers have met four white people: Gray, Kitchen, Miss Maria Pope, and Jeremiah Cobb. None of them are described positively. Why might that be? Since the book is supposedly written from Nat's point of view, why might he only describe white people (to this point in the book) in negative terms?

3. In the Introduction, Gray talks about an "annexed certificate of the County Court of Southampton" to prove the authenticity of Nat's "confession." Yet no one from the court, besides Gray, heard Nat's statements. Why might Gray have included the certificate?

4. Nat tells Gray in the Introduction, "I don't think you understand about this business and I don't know but whether it's too late to make it all plain". If Gray took down what Nat said and is reading it back to him, why would Nat think Gray didn't understand?

5. Gray says that all the other insurgents who were examined tried to exculpate themselves. What does that mean? And why Nat didn't do it?

6. While in jail, Nat describes Kitchen and thinks of him in one way, yet speaks to him in a completely different manner. Describe the differences and what this tells readers about Nat.

7. The Introduction opens in the jail, so the reader already know Nat has been caught. Why might the author have used this technique? Why not choose some other method of telling the story?

8. What do readers know about Gray from the Introduction? What is implied, or what can be inferred from what Gray says? From this information, what kind of person might Gray be?

9. Prejudice is "an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought or reason". (Dictionary.com) Do you think Nat displays prejudice toward Gray? Toward whites in general? How? List specific examples from Part 1.

10. In the introduction, Gray refers to the insurrection as a "conspiracy." Do you agree with that term? Why or why not?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Nat has a revelation in Part 1 when he is called a slave for the first time in his memory. The night seems longer after that, "beyond hope of ending," as Nat says. Describe how Nat's perceptions changed after hearing this. How did his perception of himself change? How did his perception of the world change? Use at least one specific example from the book in your essay.

Essay Topic 2

Near the end of Part 2, Nat reflects on the fact that the other slaves "cared nothing about themselves or where they were going." They weren't concerned about the future, and their sale didn't seem to bother them. Why were they unconcerned? Use at least one specific example from the book in your essay.

Essay Topic 3

At the beginning of Part 1, Gray tells Nat he's going to be tried next Saturday, and "hung by the neck until dead." Give three other, specific examples from the book that show how Nat's fate was decided even before the trial took place. Why do you think Nat did not react to this statement?

(see the answer keys)

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