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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. After the incident at the large Juneteenth revival, when does Bliss get to see Reverend Hickman again?

2. What advice does the lion tamer give Bliss outside of the circus tent?

3. What sound does the senator hear as he flees the clubhouse in his final hallucination?

4. What does Bliss do when he comes across the small clown outside of the circus tent?

5. What fact is Bliss most interested to know about the circus clowns?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss at least 3 meanings of the novel's title, using direct evidence from the text when appropriate.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss race and at least 3 specific ways in which race comes up in the novel. How does Ellison use race to tie into the novel's larger themes and message?

Essay Topic 3

Why does the reader never learn much about the senator's assassin? Discuss at least 3 reasons why this is true and what effect it has on the reader.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 263 words (approx. 1 page at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample