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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. After winning the battle with "the beast" what does Bigger do?

2. After meeting Mrs. Dalton, what two things does Bigger note about her?

3. Who does Bigger see when he, Mary and Jan enter the restaurant?

4. What is the job Mr. Dalton is hiring Bigger to do?

5. Who answers the door when Bigger finally knocks on the door of the Dalton house?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Bigger need to get a job?

2. Why did Bigger help Mary to her room instead of waking her parents and letting them know her drunken condition?

3. Explain the game, "White," that Bigger and his friends played.

4. Why does Bigger get so angry and violent with Gus when he says he'll go along with the robbery?

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

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

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

8. What does it mean about Bigger "Feeling his blackness," even more after Mary Dalton and Jan Erlone's attempts at being friendly?

9. Why do the Dalton's make Bigger feel so uncomfortable?

10. Describe Bigger's home.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on the way the author, Richard Wright wrote this story, demonstrates both sides of the "nature versus nurture" theory. This is particularly strong when Max testifies to the court about Bigger's life. In the essay describe various parts of the story and how they reinforce both aspects of the theory.

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

Symbolism of words "White" and "Black"

The author of this novel, Richard Wright, has used the words "Black" and "White" heavily throughout this novel. Write an essay on the symbolism of these words, using several examples of each from the novel. Include whether or not the words influenced you at all as you read it.

(see the answer keys)

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