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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 happens to Emperor Jones when he sees the apparition in the third forest scene?

2. How has Emperor Jones helped Smithers?

3. What is the setting where the play begins?

4. What is Jeff wearing when Emperor Jones sees him?

5. Where does Emperor Jones look for the food he buried?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is it that gives Emperor Jones the courage to act in the fourth forest scene?

2. What happens at the beginning of the second forest scene to ease Emperor Jones' fears?

3. Why was Emperor Jones foolish to fire his gun at the formless fears?

4. Describe Emperor Jones' state of mind at the beginning of the third forest scene.

5. Contrast Emperor Jones' status in the first scene with his status at the end of the sixth forest scene.

6. How have the natives prepared to kill Emperor Jones?

7. What is the significance of Emperor Jones' clothing in the fifth forest scene?

8. Describe Emperor Jones' appearance in the second forest scene.

9. What is Smithers' relationship to Emperor Jones?

10. Describe the apparition Emperor Jones sees in the fourth forest scene.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How was Emperor Jones received in America when it premiered in 1929? What does it tell us about America in 1929 that it got the responses it did? What does it tell us about how blacks were treated in America at the time?

Essay Topic 2

Henry Smithers is the only white man in the play, and the witch doctor and Lem and the old woman in the first scene are the only natives with speaking roles. Compare and contrast the roles of the white and black characters. How are they the same? How are they different? What difference does skin color make in this play? What can Smithers do that the natives cannot, and vice versa? Are these characters presented as individuals, or as typifying their respective races?

Essay Topic 3

Emperor Jones takes advantage of the natives' superstition. Cite three instances of superstition in the play and describe the belief behind each one. Is there another way of believing in things in this play? Does superstition reveal its limitations as a method of belief? Does it reveal its strength? Is one kind of superstition more powerful than another when it comes to Emperor Jones' feelings, or his power over the natives, or Jones' guilt?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 729 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample