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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 does Langston's mother write?

2. What does Langston do at this revival?

3. What leads Langston and his father to get into an argument concerning Langston's future?

4. What happens when, in January, 1921, "A Negro Speaks of Rivers" is published in The Crisis?

5. What does he do during this activity?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Langston affected by his father's attitude?

2. Why does Langston travel to McKeesport, Pennsylvania?

3. What happens when Langston returns to New York?

4. What is Langston's job on the S.S. West Hesseltine?

5. How is Langston, yet again, faced with prejudice?

6. How does Langston get the opportunity to travel to Africa? What does he do, as he travels across the ocean?

7. Why does Langston return to Mexico for the summer?

8. Describe Langston's father.

9. How is Langston reunited with his father?

10. What does Langston do while at Lincoln?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hughes throws his books over the edge of a ship.

Part 1) Why had a brought the books along? Why does he throw them overboard?

Part 2) What causes this decision? How does this action reflect his view of life and his work?

Part 3) What does this reveal about his beliefs about his trip to Africa?

Essay Topic 2

Hughes explores many different media.

Part 1) In what media does Hughes experiment? Why does he do this?

Part 2) How do these explorations affect his poetry? Why?

Part 3) How do these explorations affect Hughes' career as an artist? Why are these explorations significant?

Essay Topic 3

Langston goes on a poetry-reading tour.

Part 1) Describe this tour. Why does he go on this tour?

Part 2) How does he affect those to which he speaks? Why?

Part 3) How is Hughes affected by the people to which he speaks and meets?

Part 4) How does racism continue to play a role in Hughes' life during this time?

(see the answer keys)

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