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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. To whom is the author writing in "My Dungeon Shook"?

2. After whom was the letter recipient named in "My Dungeon Shook"?

3. In "My Dungeon Shook," the author cites E. Franklin Frazier as describing a time when the blacks left the land and entered into what?

4. The author claims in "My Dungeon Shook" that "the danger, in the minds of most white Americans, is" what?

5. How does the author describe the recipient's character in "My Dungeon Shook"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is E. Franklin Frazier and why does the author cite him in "My Dungeon Shook"?

2. What does the author say the world has done to his brother in "My Dungeon Shook"?

3. How does the author describe his mother in "My Dungeon Shook"?

4. How is the essay "My Dungeon Shook" formatted and structured?

5. How does the author define the word "integration" in the conclusion of "My Dungeon Shook"?

6. How does the author impress the importance of history on his nephew in "My Dungeon Shook"?

7. Why does James Baldwin claim to have re-started his letter numerous times in "My Dungeon Shook"?

8. How is the title of the essay employed in "My Dungeon Shook"?

9. What paradox does the author describe in "My Dungeon Shook"?

10. How does the author rally his nephew in the conclusion of "My Dungeon Shook"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of exploitation in "Down at the Cross." How does the author feel religions tend to exploit their followers? Does he believe this is true both in white society and in African American society? What are examples of the exploitation of the church?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the author's literary allusions in The Fire Next Time. What poets and authors does Baldwin cite in the essays? What is the significance of his choices on these authors? How do the works of these authors and poets relate thematically to The Fire Next Time?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the life and career of author James Baldwin. What role did Baldwin play in the Civil Rights Movement? What are the major themes and subjects of Baldwin's essays, plays, and novels? Where did Baldwin live for most of his life?

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This section contains 928 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample