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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. Where was the woman sitting in the Eyes story?

2. What does Cleaver describe in this chapter?

3. What drug was Cleaver caught in possession of?

4. What does Cleaver say the encounter with his lawyer has done to him?

5. Which Norman Mailer book does Cleaver mention in this chapter?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Cleaver's opinion of women while he is in prison?

2. Why is Cleaver in love with his lawyer?

3. Describe Cleaver's afternoon routine.

4. How did Cleaver react to Malcolm X's death?

5. Describe Cleaver's morning routine while in prison.

6. Describe Cleaver's encounter with a woman on Main Street.

7. What is the relationship between whites and blacks in the prison?

8. Why does Cleaver think there are so few black leaders?

9. How has Malcolm X changed Cleaver's view of racial difficulties?

10. Why did Cleaver become involved in the Catholic Church while in prison?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Look at the structure of the book.

1) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the book's ideas?

2) Examine the way Cleaver uses other people in the story to express his ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following and outline Cleaver's thoughts on the subject. Use your own ideas to argue whether you think Cleaver is right or wrong.

1) The white upper classes.

2) Vietnam

3) Segregation

Essay Topic 3

Examine Cleaver's writing style. How would you describe his prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? Does he use any specific writing techniques? What meaning does Cleaver's style give to his story?

(see the answer keys)

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