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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 does Jan Erlone think when he hears Bigger's lie about him?

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

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

4. The South Side Real Estate Company is what to Bigger?

5. What did Bigger's mother say to him after she awakens the morning after the killing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What things made the Daltons begin to worry about their daughter being gone?

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

3. When did Bigger realize how quickly news was going to spread that he had killed Mary?

4. What is the one problem Bigger feels he has to do before he will be okay?

5. Bigger was very much interested in reading about himself in the newspapers. Of what significance was this?

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

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

8. Describe Bigger's treatment when he was finally caught.

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

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

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

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

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.

(see the answer keys)

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