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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. Who said the following: "I have never seen or heard from her from that day to this. I loved her as I love my life."

2. In Chapter 2, who was free man who was captured and put into slavery?

3. What was the name of the white man who taught his black son to call him "Papa" instead of "Master?"

4. Whose account supports the author's claim that slave traders often used tricks to make the slaves appear well-groomed and healthy for the day of the auction?

5. Mammy referred to her slave days as what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was one of the big problems that arose after slaves were emancipated?

2. Even though Lincoln's original goal was not to free the slaves through the Civil War, why did so many slaves join the Union army?

3. What story did Frank Cooper tell and what was its importance?

4. What was the overall reaction from the slave owner community once slaves were freed?

5. What kept the slaves working in the fields day in and day out?

6. Briefly describe a typical plantation.

7. Describe how the slaves were held in the slave galley of the ships.

8. Discuss the role of establishing house-servants and what they did.

9. What were some of the reasons that slave owners would sell their slaves?

10. Describe a typical day for a slave working on a plantation.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many years after the Civil War had ended and slaves had been free, the Federal Writer's Project began to interview former slaves and record their experiences and stories. Why did they do this? What was the overall reaction from the black community on this project? Julius Lester, the author of "To Be a Slave" was also a man who did research and compiled several slave accounts. What was his purpose for doing this and did he achieve it? Does reading a true slave narrative change your perception of slavery from before you read it? If so, how? What does reading a true slave narrative accomplish?

Essay Topic 2

There is a very long narrative about a slave named Paul in the novel. Give a brief summary about the story. Why is it included in the novel? Discuss what Paul symbolizes. What happens to Paul in the end? Discuss the reason for Paul's decision for his own life and how the narrator of Paul's story feels about it. Do you agree with Paul's decision? Why or why not? The narrator notes the iron collar around Paul's neck. What does it symbolize? The narrator also notes the three bells. What do they symbolize?

Essay Topic 3

For most slaves, the plantation was the only thing that they knew. Describe what a typical plantation looked like and who lived on it. What were the duties of a slave living on a plantation? What were the living conditions and daily lifestyle? Discuss in detail whether such a lifestyle was just and what part of human nature drove slave owners to treat their slaves in such manners. Why did the slaves continue to work as they did?

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