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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. Why does the narrator not tell the doctors his name after the procedure?

2. What does the narrator discuss with the woman in his dream?

3. How does Mr. Norton explain the day's events?

4. Where does the road in the college town ultimately lead?

5. In addition to his memories, what else has the narrator lost?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the objective of Rev. Barbee's sermon?

2. To what kind of action has music called the narrator?

3. What does Ellison mean by "benign neglect"?

4. In what way, according to the veteran, is the narrator likely to become a casualty?

5. Who are the sleeping ones?

6. Describe Dr. Bledsoe.

7. Why does Mr. Norton give Jim Trueblood $100?

8. Why does the trip to the Trueblood house make the narrator feel uncomfortable?

9. Of what "irresponsibility" are sleepwalkers and dreamers accused?

10. Why does the drug store have the pork chop and grits special?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an analysis of the various locations in which the narrator lives, i.e, the college, Harlem, in his new apartment, and finally in the "hole." Discuss how each location is a reflection of his changing attitude/character.

Essay Topic 2

On several different occasions, the narrator speaks directly to the reader, ending in his epilogue with "perhaps I speak for you...." Who do you think Ellison imagined as his most likely audience? If the various groups of people in the book could be allegorical representations of cultural groups--i.e. college administrators, blue collar employers, political party leaders, low income minority groups, etc.--what message would they perceive in the novel? Choose two or three different groups and tell how the story might speak to each of them.

Essay Topic 3

The narrator's grandfather tries to explain how he himself had failed the black people. What does the narrator initially not understand about the concept of "yessing" them to death? How does he eventually understand and adopt the idea? What conclusion does he finally draw about appearing to agree while actually plotting against someone?

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