View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where is Mary Dalton expected to go on the day after Bigger is hired by her father?

2. Where does Bigger take the trunk with the body inside?

3. Where does Bigger have a job interview?

4. What Bigger and his friends call the game they play?

5. What does Bigger daydream about during the second movie?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did he find outside near the car on the night of Mary's death, and what did he do with it?

2. How does Bigger really feel about holding up Blum's Delicatessen?

3. Why did Bigger decide to put Mary's body in the trunk?

4. What were Bigger's two final concerns about the burning body?

5. Why does Bigger need to get a job?

6. Why does Bigger panic when Mrs. Dalton enters Mary's room while he is in there?

7. Why does Bigger seem to take an instant dislike to Mary Dalton?

8. After Bigger realized Mary was dead, why didn't he even consider just telling the truth?

9. Describe Bigger's home.

10. What is the symbolism of the two movies Bigger and his friends saw?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the very end of the story Max is upset when Bigger comes to the conclusion that it must have been good that he killed. In an essay explain Bigger's reasoning and how he came to that conclusion. Also explain what Max is trying to make Bigger understand after he comes to this conclusion. Why might the two men have different views on this subject?

Essay Topic 2

Fear, Flight and Fate Themes:

Write an essay about the way each of these themes were demonstrated in the story. Did any of them intertwine? If so, when/how?

Essay Topic 3

There are places in the story where Bigger demonstrates a keen ability to visualize a situation ahead of time to evaluate the outcomes. Was this an advantage or disadvantage to him in the story? Give examples in the essay.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 608 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample