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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 is different about Bigger and his friend's plan this time?

2. Why does Mrs. Dalton express disappoint in Bigger?

3. What does Bigger realize after Mrs. Dalton leaves Mary's bedroom?

4. What is Vera doing at the YWCA?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What was the story Bigger planned to tell when he returned in the morning?

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

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

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

6. Describe Bigger's home.

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

8. How does Bigger feel about his family?

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

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

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

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.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 615 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample