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

2. What is the on-going plan Bigger and his friends discuss that morning?

3. What is Vera doing at the YWCA?

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

5. Where do Mary and Jan sit in the car?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How does Bigger feel about his family?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 750 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample