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. What does Mrs. Thomas want Bigger to do to help the family?

2. As Bigger is leaving the Dalton home after Mary's death, what does he find near the Dalton's car?

3. Where does Bigger say white people live?

4. Where does Mary suggest she, Jan and Bigger go to eat?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. After all the gory details of the way he disposed of Mary's body, how was Bigger reacting?

2. Why did Bigger want to kill the cat?

3. What happened when Mary's body didn't fit into the furnace?

4. Why does Bigger need to get a job?

5. Describe Bigger's home.

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

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

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 630 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample