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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 horrifying sight does the narrator see as he flees the riot?

2. The narrator believes the Brotherhood will destroy itself. Why?

3. For whom does the Brotherhood claim to work?

4. What does Brother Tarp give the narrator in Chapter 18?

5. What does Dupre want to do prior to starting the fire?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is meant by "white fever"?

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

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

4. To what does Brother Tarp attribute the warning letter?

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

6. What does Brother Jack really want the narrator to avoid doing?

7. What is the primary problem with the instructions given to the narrator to gather more members?

8. How does the narrator really feel about the gift of the chain from Brother Tarp?

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

10. Describe one of the roles played by Rinehart.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Early in the novel, the graduating black boys are deliberately used as cruel sport for the white men at a club. Norton is at the club with all the other white men. Norton does not care about the black boys any more than anyone else does. Therefore, what is his purpose at the college? Explain the things that Mr. Norton and Brother Jack have in common.

Essay Topic 3

Several times the narrator recalls his grandfather's dying words. Discuss the situations in which the narrator recalls his grandfather, showing how he reacts to those memories upon different occasions.

(see the answer keys)

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