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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. Who does Simple represent?

2. Where does Langston continue to submit plays?

3. While in Baton Rouge, what does Langston visit?

4. About what is Hughes to report?

5. Where does this trip south take Langston?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Langston able to tour the American South for the entirety of the summer?

2. What is significant about "Don't You Want to Be Free?"

3. Why does Hughes' poetry get him into trouble?

4. What does Langston do with the money he earns from the movie?

5. What does Langston do after his first year at Lincoln?

6. What does Aimie Semple McPherson say about Langston?

7. What difficulties exist for Langston after graduation?

8. Why does Hughes travel to Spain?

9. Who is Jesse B. Simple?

10. What happens to the movie for which Hughes had been asked to become a writer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Hughes' father is interested in paying for him to go to college.

Part 1) What does his father want him to study? What does Langston want to study?

Part 2) Why does his father want him to go to college? How is this motive revealed in the book?

Part 3) How does his father's reason for sending Langston to college reinforce Langston's opinion of him?

Essay Topic 3

Hughes is accepted into Columbia University.

Part 1) Describe his experience at Columbia.

Part 2) Why does he drop out? How does his experience at Columbia play a role in his decision to drop out?

Part 3) Is Langston's college experience worthwhile? Why or why not? What purpose does this time at Columbia serve?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 956 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample