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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 happens to the bulls on Farmer's last voyage?

2. What is the name of the Native American Equiano tries to convert to Christianity?

3. Why does Equiano decide to leave the plantation?

4. How does the crew of Mulgrave's expedition survive?

5. What does Equiano become convinced is necessary for salvation?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Equiano's trip to New York and Philadelphia in 1784.

2. How does his experience of being "born again" change Equiano's attitude toward life?

3. Why does the episode with John Annis affect Equiano's quest for a religion?

4. How does the trip to the North Pole develop Equiano's characterization?

5. How are Equiano and Farmer each characterized by the incident with the bulls and the turkeys?

6. Why does Equiano choose to go with Dr. Irving to start a plantation in Jamaica?

7. Does the manumission of Equiano seem like a high point to this autobiography?

8. When Equiano decides he needs to find a religion to commit to (after his trip to the North Pole), how does he begin his search?

9. Is there an implicit argument being made in Equiano's description of the time he spent in Turkey?

10. Compare Phillips to Farmer.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast any three locations that Equiano travels to or describes in The Interesting Narrative. What conclusions can readers draw from the information Equiano presents about these three different locations?

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 1, Equiano states that he wants to avoid being either vain or boring in writing his own life story, but that instead he wants to provide "satisfaction" and "promote the interest of humanity." How well does he avoid being vain or boring? How well does he achieve his goals of providing "satisfaction" or entertainment to readers and promoting "the interest of humanity"?

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 10, Equiano decides to go to Turkey because the Turks are the most Christ-like people he believes he has met. Based on his descriptions of all the different national and ethnic groups he encounters, explain how he might have come to this conclusion. Is it supported by the information he has presented elsewhere in the book?

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