2. Old Sister Johnson had lived through slavery, and after being freed, she and a large number of other blacks started up a town called _____________.

3. Why did many of the elder townspeople die?

4. It was late March and Annjee decided that she was going to save up her money and do what?

5. He knew that Jesus was white but what had he learned?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is it revealed in this chapter that class structure and race is important to the people of Stanton?

2. What does Jimboy do when he comes home in "Guitar?" Why might he do this?

3. How does Sandy react to Tempy's gift? Why does he react this way?

4. What is the purpose of "White Folks?"

5. How does Hager show she is a determined woman in this chapter?

6. Summarize "Storm."

7. How do Sandy and Annjee feel about Jimboy's disappearance? Why do they feel this way?

8. Why is Jimboy returning home? Does Aunt Hager believe him? Why or why not?

9. How does Annjee defend her decision to go to Detroit?

10. Describe the relationship between Harriet and Hager.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most of the characters in this story are women.

Part 1) Why might the author have made most of the characters women? What generalization can you make about these women? What generalization can you make about the men in the story? How do the women compare to the men? What does this reveal about the culture of the time and the author?

Part 2) What might this story have been like if most of the characters were men? Would it be different? Why or why not? Why has the author put an importance and an emphasis on women, especially considering the author is a man?

Part 3) Compare these women to the women in your own life. How are they similar? How are they different? What might account for these similarities and differences? Although most of the characters are women, can men relate to these characters? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Annjee is frequently upset by decisions her husband makes.

Part 1) Why is she frequently upset by Jimboy's decisions? Should she be upset? Why or why not? Should Jimboy change his decisions because of her unhappiness? Why or why not?

Part 2) How do these decision and Annjee's unhappiness with them affect their relationship? Are you surprised that he leaves her in Chicago? Why or why not? Do you see Jimboy as a bad guy? Why or why not?

Part 3) Do you believe that Hughes created Jimboy as a representation of the typical African American male at this time? If so, why? If not, what purpose does Jimboy serve?

Essay Topic 3

A carnival and revival take place on the same day only a half mile apart.

Part 1) Describe the events surrounding this carnival and the revival. Why has the author put both of these events on the same day near each other? What does this reveal about the characters and the culture at the time?

Part 2) How might people act today if there were both a carnival and church revival on the same day? Would the reaction be the same? Why or why not?

Part 3) How are these two events similar? How are they different? What do they have to say about how people spend their leisure time? What does it also say about one's priorities in life?

(see the answer keys)

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