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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. After crossing into the country, why is Langston denied a sleeping car on the train?

2. What does Langston think about his job as a doorman at a nightclub?

3. Who is Hughes' only friend in Africa?

4. Why does Langston not like his middle-class relatives?

5. Describe Hughes' family history.

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe Langston's experience in Paris.

3. Describe Lincoln.

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

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

6. What happens to Langston when he goes to a cafeteria with a white friend?

7. What does Langston do after dropping out of Columbia?

8. How does Langston end up meeting the editors of The Crisis?

9. How is Langston affected by racism at this point in his life?

10. How is Langston treated in Africa?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

A theme found in much of Hughes' work is the optimism of humor.

Part 1) How is this a theme?

Part 2) How is humor optimistic? What does this reveal about Hughes?

Part 3) How might this theme draw readers to Hughes' work?

Essay Topic 3

Langston is involved in anti-war campaigns.

Part 1) How is he involved in anti-war campaigns? Why is he involved in these campaigns?

Part 2) How does his early interest in social issues foreshadow this?

Part 3) How do his anti-war campaigns affect others? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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