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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 Bert refuse to do when he hears the Colonel coming?

2. How is Bert also riling up the white townspeople?

3. Who is Sam?

4. What is the real outrage about Bert's behavior?

5. What does Cora tell Bert he needs to do, regarding his behavior?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Sallie leave? Who arrives as Sallie leaves? Who is this person, and why has he come?

2. What does Cora try to do, one more time, regarding Bert?

3. How does Bert feel about his mother's advice?

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

5. What does Norwood say about his treatment of his "darkies?"

6. How does the scene end?

7. What is Cora's response when the Undertaker tells Cora that Norwood is dead?

8. How does the argument become violent?

9. Why is Sam upset and scared?

10. How does this scene open?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Act 2, Scene 2 contains much of the play's action.

Part 1) Describe this action. What leads up to this action?

Part 2) What is the outcome of this action? Could this outcome have been different? How? Why?

Part 3) How does this scene engage the audience? Are you surprised by this action? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Cora is changed after Norwood's death.

Part 1) What causes this change? How do other react to this change? Will this change be permanent? Why or why not?

Part 2) What is the author's purpose for the change in this character?

Part 3) How does this change in Cora reflect how she feels about Bert and Norwood? How does this reflect how she feels about her other children and members of the white community? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

This play has a sociopolitical theme.

Part 1) What clues or characteristics make this apparent?

Part 2) What is the significance of this theme?

Part 3) How is the play and theme relevant today? Would any aspects of this play need to be changed to be more engaging for a modern audience? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 734 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample