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. When Peggy finds Mary is not in her room what does she question Bigger about it, and what does he tell her?

2. What happens when Bigger first awakens the morning after the murder?

3. What goes through Bigger's mind when he hears the music from the church?

4. What keeps stopping Bigger from shaking down the ashes in the furnace?

5. What idea does Bigger get after Bessie mentions he is working near the site of the Leopold and Loeb case?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Bigger's fatal mistake in his plan to dispose of Mary's body?

2. As Bigger arrived at the Dalton home on the morning after Mary's murder how was he feeling?

3. What was the argument Bigger had with his family as he tried to pack his things the day after Mary's death?

4. Why did Bigger decide to try to blame Jan and the Communist Party for the kidnapping?

5. In Book two, what does Bigger do at the drug store?

6. Although Bigger was very quick with his deceit and able to think on his feet, so to speak, in what way was he becoming his own worst enemy?

7. How did Bigger feel about killing Bessie?

8. When Bigger awoke in the morning after Mary's death, what happened when he remembered what he had done the night before?

9. What deterred the Daltons from being excessively concerned when they found Mary wasn't in the house the morning after she was murdered?

10. In what ways was Bigger's capture similar to the opening of the book when Bigger chased, eventually killing the rat?

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

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

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 958 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample