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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 Sophia's friend do later that night?

2. What nickname is Malcolm given in prison?

3. Whose friends stop Malcolm and Archie from killing each other?

4. Where does Ella find Malcolm a job at the beginning of the chapter?

5. Where does Malcolm's sister live?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Malcolm find African American life like in Chapter 2?

2. Why is it difficult for Haley to be a dispassionate chronicler of Malcolm's life?

3. How did Malcolm deal with the trouble he has with Archie?

4. Describe Malcolm's reunion with Archie.

5. What does Malcolm learn when he moves to Boston?

6. In what way is Malcolm disillusioned with life in Chapter 8?

7. Summarize Chapter 7

8. Describe Malcolm's press conference in Chapter 18.

9. Describe Malcolm's parents.

10. What doe Malcolm learn about whites in Chapter 17?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Look at the structure of the novel.

1) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the book's ideas?

2) Examine the way both Malcolm and Alex Haley use the other people in the story to express Malcolm's ideas.

Essay Topic 2

What do you think are the problems with the way Malcolm represents Muhammad in the book? What do you think Muhammad would say about Malcolm? Does this subjectivity highlight the problem with reliability of autobiographies?

Essay Topic 3

How much do you think Malcolm X changed positive representations of African American culture? Is Malcolm's influence still felt today? Are there books, music or even celebrities that derive from Malcolm X's beliefs? What positive impact have Malcolm X's ideas had on society? Do you think Malcolm's ideas have had any negative impacts upon society?

(see the answer keys)

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