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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 was John the first member of his family to do?

2. What was the name of Gabriel's first wife?

3. What kind of black person does Florence claim to hate?

4. What would Frank do after an argument with Florence?

5. What did Deborah suspect Gabriel had?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does John sense about his father's feelings in this section?

2. Why does Gabriel marry Deborah?

3. How did Gabriel try to get Esther out of his life when she fell pregnant?

4. What was Elizabeth's upbringing like with her aunt?

5. Why does Elizabeth blame herself for Richard's death?

6. How does John react to Gabriel's severe remarks?

7. How did Elizabeth meet Gabriel?

8. How does Gabriel think God can help Elizabeth?

9. Why was Florence and her family so frightened by Deborah's father's attack on the white men?

10. Why was Richard arrested?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Baldwin's life. In what way do you think his life and personality is reflected in the book?In what ways is he like or unlike the main character John?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the values of 1930s.

1) Why was religion so important to black people?

2) What significant changes do you think occurred during this period?

3) Does today's society share any values with 1930s America?

Essay Topic 3

Compare the characters of Gabriel and Elizabeth.

1) In what ways are their ideas different?

2) What is their relationship to each other?

3) Why do you think they cannot sort out their differences?

(see the answer keys)

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