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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. Which term describes how Emperor Jones speaks after he leaves the palace?

2. What kind of gun does Emperor Jones carry?

3. What color is Jones' uniform?

4. What does Emperor Jones throw into the bushes?

5. What provision has Emperor Jones made in case of uprising?

Short Essay Questions

1. List two interpretations of Jones' vision in the fourth forest scene.

2. Describe Emperor Jones' appearance in the fifth forest scene.

3. How does the sound of the tom-tom change over the course of the second forest scene?

4. What effect do the formless fears have on Emperor Jones?

5. How long has Emperor Jones been walking when the second forest scene begins?

6. Describe the apparition Emperor Jones sees in the sixth forest scene.

7. How are the formless fears manifested on stage?

8. Describe Emperor Jones' state of mind in the second scene.

9. Describe the setting for Scene 6, the fifth forest scene.

10. What are two explanations for the identity of the chain gang?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Emperor Jones is haunted by scenes from America's slave-holding history. How is Emperor Jones in the same position as the slaves? How is his situation different?

Essay Topic 2

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 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 646 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample