Print
Word
PDF
|
| Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What does Edward find out about Nash from Madison?
2. How does Martha pay for her travel to California?
3. Where was Martha's husband sold?
4. Who inherits the plantation of Martha's master/owner when he dies?
5. Why does Martha's new owner/master decide to sell her?
Short Essay Questions
1. Describe the plantation that Edward Williams owns.
2. Describe the American Colonization Society.
3. What does Martha think happened to her daughter?
4. What did Edward dream that caused him much angst, and what does he interpret it as?
5. What do you think happened to Martha's husband?
6. Describe Martha's boyfriend, Chester.
7. How is Nash treated by white men in Monrovia, Liberia?
8. How did Madison Williams get emancipated?
9. What group of people make up most of Martha's business while she is in Kansas?
10. In "West," who finds Martha in Denver, and what does this person do for her?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
While the first two stories in Crossing the River showed struggle more from the perspective of black characters who were victims of a cruel society that endorsed slavery, "Crossing the River" is told wholly from the perspective of a white captain who promotes slavery through trade. Describe his beliefs and how he reconciles them with the immoral profession he endorses and takes part in. What is "commercial detachment," and what does Captain Hamilton think of it?
Essay Topic 2
Caryl Phillips writes "West" in such a way that is not accusatory of the white characters for their actions in the story concerning the treatment of blacks, and he does this by showing how they must have realistically thought of their actions, using points of view that show their ignorance. Discuss the intentions and point of view of one or more of the white characters. Focus on the idea of ignorance and how most of that seems to come out of the naivete of white people at the time. What do you think of the woman's attempt to assist Martha? Was she helping her to make herself feel less guilty about the immoral way blacks are treated or did she sincerely seek to help Martha? Why is the fact that she does not know Martha's name significant?
Essay Topic 3
Each character in "The Pagan Coast," such as the American Colonization Society and Madison, represents a perspective or theme of the time period. For example, Edward represents the white Christian's perspective of a person who owns slaves, yet pities them, so he tries to bring them up to his level by teaching them white civility. Explore two characters' perspectives or themes that they present in the story. Make sure your answer analyzes them in detail, providing evidence through the use of examples found in the story.
|
This section contains 910 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
|
