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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. How old was the author when he describes having gone through a "prolonged religious crisis" in the beginning of "Down at the Cross"?

2. The author puts forth the Nation of Islam's belief that the white man's rule will be ended in how much time in "Down at the Cross"?

3. In describing his dinner at Elijah Muhammad's home, the author states, "I began to see that Elijah's power came from his" what?

4. What word from "Down at the Cross" refers to people who engage in dishonest and fraudulent business dealings?

5. In becoming a successful Young Minister, the author describes his rivalry with whom, in "Down at the Cross"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What causes the author irritation during his dinner at Elijah Muhammad's home?

2. What "truth" does the author describe finding through this experiences with Christianity?

3. How would you describe the central subject and structure of the first part of "Down at the Cross"?

4. What does the author describe discussing with his driver after leaving Elijah Muhammad's home in "Down at the Cross"?

5. What elements of foreshadowing can be seen in the first part of "Down at the Cross"?

6. What parallels does the author draw between his father and Elijah Muhammad in "Down at the Cross"?

7. How does the author describe his religious faith to Elijah Muhammad in "Down at the Cross"?

8. What does the author point out as the failings of Christianity and Islam in "Down at the Cross"?

9. In the second section of "Down at the Cross," the author points out many reasons that American society is not healed in relation to race. How does he propose it might become healed?

10. What differences does the author point out between Christianity and Islam in the second section of "Down at the Cross"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the title of the book. Where in the essays does the author cite a quotation that includes the book's title? What is referred to in this Biblical allusion? How does this quote relate to the themes in "Down at the Cross" and "My Dungeon Shook"?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the language style of The Fire Next Time. How would you describe the author's fluidity and lyricism in his language in the essays? What are examples of literary devices such as similes, metaphors, etc. employed by the author? How does the language style reflect upon the author?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of anger in The Fire Next Time. How is the author's own anger revealed in the essays? What does the author remark about the anger of others? How does the author perceive his own anger?

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