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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. Who are the figures Emperor Jones sees working in this third forest scene?

2. How far away was Emperor Jones' would-be assassin when the gun misfired?

3. What appears to Emperor Jones in the first scene in the forest?

4. Why does Emperor Jones head for the forest at the end of the first scene?

5. What is the throne in the palace made of?

Short Essay Questions

1. Some of Emperor Jones' apparitions are racial memories. What does this conclusion say about the state or the future of the black race?

2. Before he sees Jeff, Emperor Jones surveys himself and assesses his plight. How does he feel about his situation?

3. What does the figure in the sixth forest scene's apparition communicate to Emperor Jones?

4. In what way is Emperor Jones' situation ironic?

5. Describe Emperor Jones' appearance in the first scene.

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

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

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

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

10. Describe the irony in the natives' method for killing Emperor Jones.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Emperor Jones' visions portray both historical and personal scenes. Describe the effect of the historical scenes, and the personal scenes, and compare and contrast the scenes. Is Emperor Jones a historical play, or a play about one man's flight from justice?

Essay Topic 2

What is the moral of Emperor Jones? Does the play teach a moral? If you think it does, describe how that lesson is presented. If you think that it does not, what does it teach us, if not a moral?

Essay Topic 3

Emperor Jones strips off his clothing as the play goes on. Describe three instances where clothing is important in the play and describe the symbolic significance of clothing in the play.

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