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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 is interested in the Bakers' land?

2. Frank is __________ about being called a colored poet.

3. What does Frank mention that offends Wil?

4. Sophie, Fannie, and Minnie's relationship is _________.

5. How does Minnie explain her injury?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Minnie first wakes up in Act 1, Scene 4, Miss Leah remarks that Minnie is looking more like herself this morning. What does she mean by this?

2. How do so many black people end up in Nicodemus, Kansas? What are they all looking for?

3. Why does Frank beat Minnie to a dreadful state in Act 2, Scene 3? What does he get out of it?

4. Describe Sophie, Fannie, and Minnie's ritual after their dinner.

5. Why does Minnie hand the deed over to Sophie when she retrieves it?

6. Frank shows some tenderness toward Minnie, but he is also easily angered. Overall, what does Frank think of Minnie?

7. Minnie has braids in her hair when she and Frank first meet. Yet, when Miss Leah braids Minnie's hair on their visit, Frank gets angry. Why does Frank hate Minnie's hair this way?

8. What sense of feeling does the reader get when Miss Leah and Minnie talk as Miss Leah braids Minnie's hair?

9. What is the mood of the last scene of the play, and how is it shown?

10. Sophie could not care less about Memphis, but is absolutely passionate about Kansas. Why is Sophie so passionate about Nicodemus, Kansas?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast cultural differences between Nicodemus and Memphis.

Essay Topic 2

Research Kansas as it was in the 1890s and write about what daily life is like for an African American there. How well do the characters in the play portray the average black person in Kansas of those times?

Essay Topic 3

Manipulation is seen time and again throughout the play. Find examples and explain how manipulation is used by everyone good and bad.

(see the answer keys)

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