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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. How does Bert feel about this entire situation?

2. Who is Colonel Thomas Norwood?

3. On what does little Billy begin playing?

4. What does this guest relate to the Colonel?

5. Why does Sallie come in?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the Colonel respond to Sam's question? What does Sam say about Bert? What stops the Colonel from fully processing what Sam has said to him?

2. Who is Sam? What does he ask to Colonel?

3. Why does the Undertaker ask Sam to find Cora?

4. How does the Colonel feel about Robert's behavior?

5. What does the Undertaker ask Sam?

6. What does Cora say in response to Bert?

7. How does Cora compare William to herself?

8. What does Cora do after William leaves?

9. What is Sam doing at the beginning of the scene?

10. Why do things become violent between Norwood and Bert?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The two men in the center of the conflict in this play are gone.

Part 1) How do their deaths affect or will affect the other characters in this play? Explain.

Part 2) What is the author's purpose for their deaths?

Part 3) Compare and contrast the audience members' thoughts about these deaths in the 1930s and today. What accounts for the similarities and differences?

Essay Topic 2

Norwood treats his "darkies" better than most plantation owners threat theirs.

Part 1) Why does he treat them better? How do they benefit from this?

Part 2) How is this also harmful to them?

Part 3) How is his behavior towards them contrasting and confusing? Why is it contrasting and confusing?

Essay Topic 3

Bert is filled with hatred.

Part 1) Who does he hate? Why?

Part 2) What has caused this hatred? Is he able to rid himself of this hatred? Why or why not?

Part 3) How does Bert's hatred reflect that of many African Americans at this time in American history?

(see the answer keys)

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