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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 think about his father?

2. Why does Hughes ask for a loan from Knopf, his publisher?

3. Who does Langston meet in Ashkhabad?

4. What does Hughes purchase?

5. Who does Simple represent?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Hughes travel to Spain?

2. Describe Langston's poetry-reading tour.

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

4. What does Langston do, while he is in Chicago?

5. Who is Jesse B. Simple?

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

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

8. What is significant about Jesse B. Simple?

9. Why does Langston write the poem "Tomorrow's Seed."

10. What difficulties exist for Langston after graduation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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?

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)

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