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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. Whom does Diamelo threaten to kill for not understanding orders?

2. On what date did Rutherford's father try to escape?

3. What are the slaves forced to do in the hold so that as many of them as possible can be squeezed into the available space?

4. This journal entry ends as:

5. What does Rutherford do after Squibb finishes bleeding him?

Short Essay Questions

1. After Rutherford helps throw the boy's corpse overboard, he is left with a piece of the boy's rotting flesh in his hand. What feeling does this experience leave him with?

2. One night, Cringle tells Rutherford about his father. How does Cringle describe his father's attitude towards money and the rich?

3. Rutherford tells Squibb about his brother and master. What reason does he give for Rev. Chandler deciding to keep him and Jackson, his brother, after Chandler inherited them from their father?

4. After Rutherford is thrown into the water, he sees the Allmuseri grabbing onto wood and debris to stay afloat; however, they are still very close to the ship. What happens to nearly all of the Allmuseri when the ship goes below the surface?

5. When another ship is sighted, what does Diamelo suggest doing about it?

6. Rutherford begins daydreaming about Isadora. What does he see himself doing in his daydream?

7. After his discussion with Squibb, Rutherford goes back up on deck and sees Ngonyama looking out to sea toward Bangalang. What does this remind Rutherford of?

8. When Rutherford first awakens after fainting while feeding the Allmuseri god, Squibb is feeding him a piece of steak that turns out to be Cringle's flesh. How did Cringle wind up as Rutherford's dinner?

9. When another storm comes up, Ngonyama helps Rutherford up to the deck just as an explosion rocks the boat. What appears to be the cause of the explosion?

10. When Ngonyama tells Rutherford that he would not harm the crew if he were master of the Republic, what reason does he give?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Using the text as backup, analyze how Cringle's lifelong quest to please his father has destroyed him emotionally and psychologically, and explain how Cringle's physical condition in Entry 7 is used by the author to symbolize his internal devastation.

Essay Topic 2

Perhaps the most prevalent themes in Middle Passage are those of deception, blackmail, and stealing. Choose one of the following characters and demonstrate, backing up your arguments from the book, how these themes were evidenced in the character's behavior:

1) Isadora

2) Zeringue

3) Ngonyama

4) Squibb

5) Diamelo

Essay Topic 3

Is Cringle's sacrifice of his body for the crew in Entry 8 in line with, or antithetical to, his character? Provide a complete analysis and exposition of your stance, and use the text as proof of your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

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