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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. How does the Brotherhood regard the dolls Clifton had been selling?

2. The narrator becomes dizzy at the thought that true saviors might actually be where?

3. What is the narrator accused of when he tries to dispose of the figurine?

4. What fault does Emma find with the narrator?

5. Through his experiences, what has the narrator learned to value?

Short Essay Questions

1. What strikes the narrator as the profound truth about the riot?

2. Why does Jack become angry with the man who asks the narrator to sing a "spiritual"?

3. Describe one of the roles played by Rinehart.

4. Brother Jack refers to Clifton as Brutus? How does the metaphor fit the situation?

5. How do we know at this point that the lobotomy has not been completely successful in changing the narrator's personality?

6. Why do Dupre and his men choose a particular building to burn?

7. Why does Brother Jack defend the narrator at this point?

8. What puzzling irony does the narrator tell us about the human race?

9. Why is the narrator's work on the "woman question" cut short?

10. Why is Ras' anger ironic?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Music or singing occur several times in the novel and the narrator himself refers to Armstrong. Explain how music contributes to the overall plot of the novel. Consider not only the narrator's private thoughts about music, but also the music in the chapel in Chapter 2, the music at the Brotherhood party, the man singing at Clifton's funeral, and others.

Essay Topic 2

Compare/contrast the leaders of the Brotherhood with Dr. Bledsoe and Mr. Norton. How does each group accomplish or fail to accomplish their ultimate goals?

Essay Topic 3

Explain why the Brotherhood chooses the narrator. What factors have made him particularly vulnerable to their approach? How do his own intentions change as he begins working with them?

(see the answer keys)

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