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. What does Sarny remark about her birth in Chapter 1?

2. What does Mammy pray for when Sarny witnesses her praying in Chapter 2?

3. How much money does Mrs. Waller say that her husband just spent on a new hand in Chapter 2?

4. Why does Mammy pray in the manner that she does?

5. What substance does Sarny treat the flowers with in Chapter 2?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Mr. Waller behave toward John as he brings him into the plantation in Chapter 3?

2. What is the trade that John offers to make with Sarny in Chapter 3? How does Sarny feel about the offer?

3. How is Sarny's relationship with Mammy illustrated in Chapter 1? How does Mammy feel about the other children she cares for?

4. What is significant about the animal imagery that is seen in Chapter 3?

5. How does Sarny describe Mammy's method of praying in Chapter 2? Why does Mammy pray this way?

6. How does the author describe the regulations and rules regarding slaves and religion in Chapter 2?

7. What does Sarny describe thinking about as the others sleep in the slave quarters at night in Chapter 1?

8. What imagery and/or symbolism is used in describing the slaves on the plantation in Chapter 2?

9. How does John behave toward the other slaves after his arrival in Chapter 3?

10. What is foreshadowed by Sarny's description of the penny that she once found in Chapter 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the structure of the narrative plot of Nightjohn. Where in the text do the following occur: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement? How traditionally structured is the plot of the story?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the “barter” made between John and Sarny when they first meet. How does bartering or trading relate to the theme of monetary value in the novel? What does Sarny trade with John in order to learn “letters”? What does John gain from the arrangement?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the character of Clel Waller in Nightjohn. How old is Clel Waller? How would you describe Sarny’s opinions of Master Waller? How do the other slaves feel about the master? How does Waller’s character evolve in the course of the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 909 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample