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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. Where do Mary and Jan sit in the car?

2. How does Bigger plan to explain his fingerprints in Mary's bedroom?

3. The story is set in what decade?

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

5. After Bigger threatens Gus, who prevents him from attacking the other man?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Bigger feel about his family?

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

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

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

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

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

7. Why does Bigger need to get a job?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Use of Actual Historical Events:

The author of this novel, Richard Wright, used actual historical events in the novel to bring more life to the story and to aid in his plot. In particular he mentioned the Scottsboro Boys and the Leob and Leopold Case. Write an essay about these cases and how they fit into the novel. Add any additional points used that were from real historical events.

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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