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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. What animal does Equiano accidentally kill with a pebble?

2. What does the island where Equiano's new owner takes him have a reputation for?

3. Why does King tell Equiano that he plans to sell him?

4. What does Pascal do for a living?

5. Why does Equiano want to learn navigation?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are King, Equiano, and Famer all characterized by the episode when King threatens to sell Equiano and Farmer persuades him not to do that?

2. Describe the character of Thomas Farmer as it is developed in Chapter 6.

3. In Chapter 4, how is Pascal's personality revealed to readers?

4. According to Equiano, what is slavery in the West Indies like?

5. Describe the system of slavery practiced among the Eboe people.

6. In Chapter 4, how can readers learn more about Equiano's personality?

7. Who is John Mondle and what is his significance?

8. In Chapter 3, does being purchased by Pascal seem like a good thing or a bad thing for Equiano?

9. Does Equiano's personality seem to change at all in Chapter 3?

10. Why do you think Pascal acts the way he does near the end of Chapter 4?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Historians are not certain that the details of Equiano's early life as described in the Narrative are completely accurate. In fact, many historians believe that Equiano was not born in Africa but was, instead, born a slave in North or South Carolina. Write an essay in which you explain what difference it would make to a reader's response to the book if Equiano fictionalized the details of his early life. Consider, as well, what Equiano's motivations for fictionalizing might have been.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast slavery in Africa as described by Equiano with slavery of Africans held by Englishmen as Equiano describes it. Be sure to include as many points of comparison as possible.

Essay Topic 3

Since The Interesting Narrative follows Equiano from childhood to adulthood, it is a story of a boy growing up as well as of a man seeking freedom and a spiritual home. How is Equiano's transition from childhood to adulthood affected by the fact that he is taken into slavery as an adolescent boy? How does the book show readers that transition?

(see the answer keys)

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