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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. Describe Hughes' family history.

3. How is Langston employed on a freighter?

4. What does Langston's mother want him to do?

5. Who does Langston tell that his sickness derives from a hatred of his father?

Short Essay Questions

1. What jobs does Langston have while living with the Reeds?

2. How is Langston's father's mind changed, regarding his collegiate studies?

3. Why do Langston's classmates believe he would be a good poet?

4. What happens when Langston's mother performs at church?

5. Why does Langston move to Cleveland?

6. Why does Langston travel to McKeesport, Pennsylvania?

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

8. What happens when Langston returns to New York?

9. How is Langston treated in Africa?

10. What influences exist in Langston's life at this point?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Hughes' work often gets him into trouble.

Part 1) Why does it get him into trouble?

Part 2) Would it get him into trouble today?

Part 3) Do writers and other artists today get themselves into trouble for the same issues Hughes got himself into trouble? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Hughes has an interest in social issues.

Part 1) In what social issues, specifically, is Hughes interested?

Part 2) How does this interest shape his work and career?

Part 3) How does his work in both the United States and abroad affect those nations?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 736 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample