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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. Which adjective pair best described Solomon, his brother, and father?

2. Overall, how was Solomon likely to feel about John Tibeats?

3. How did Solomon describe the interaction among Eliza, Randall, and Emily at the time that they first saw each other?

4. In one phrase, describe how Solomon perceived William Ford to be of value to him.

5. What did Freeman's customers tend to keep in mind as they shopped around his pen?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 5 of the story, how could Englishman John Manning be described in relation to Solomon?

2. How did Solomon feel that the exterior of Williams' Slave Pen in Washington could be viewed in Chapter 3 of the book?

3. In Chapter 3 of the book, what type of role did Jacob Brooks play in the life of Eliza?

4. In Chapter 1 of his book, how was Author Solomon Northrup able to depict his early years in life as normal?

5. What prompted Solomon to want to help William Ford in terms of saving time and raising profits in Chapter 7 of the book?

6. How did Solomon prove to be a resourceful type of person for his master, William Ford in Chapter 7 of the book?

7. In Chapter 2 of the book, how did Merrill Brown and Abram Hamilton persuade Solomon to travel to New York with them?

8. In Chapter 7 of the book, how was Solomon's new master, John M. Tibeats different from William Ford?

9. In Chapter 7 of the book, what set William Ford apart from the way that other slave owners treated their slaves?

10. In Chapter 2 of the book, why did Solomon decide to leave Saratoga Springs and head for New York?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the book, Twelve Years a Slave, Author Solomon Northrup mentioned slave dealers and owners who routinely abused their slaves in cruel and inhumane ways. In doing so, he mentioned Burch, Tibeats, Epps, and others. Looking at the slave-related abuse carried out by those men and others like them, to what element(s) could their cruel and inhumane ways be attributed? Were they simply mean, angry men? Did they appear to be intoxicated when they punished or abused their slaves? Were they angry about other matters and simply wanted to take out their frustrations on their slaves? Was their environment or upbringing to blame? Was there a common thread that bound them together in relation to the punishment and abuse that they inflicted upon their slaves? How could their behavior be explained?

Select three slave owners or dealers from the names provided above, and write your reply to the questions posed in the introduction above, in relation to their abusive and inhumane treatment of slaves.

Essay Topic 2

Based on his overall handling of the feud between Solomon and his master, John M. Tibeats, it could be said that Mr. Chapin, who oversaw William Ford’s plantation was a fair and honorable man.

Detail how Mr. Chapin earned the labeling of being fair and honorable. Did he do anything in relation to William Ford to earn that labeling? Specifically, what did he do in relation to the feud between Solomon and John M. Tibeats to gain a fair and honorable status? Did Mr. Chapin do anything or fail to do anything in relation to Ford, Solomon, or Tibeats that might have brought his status into question? If yes, please detail.

Essay Topic 3

Eliza expected to be issued her emancipation papers and begin living her lifelong dream of liberty with her two children, as the husband of her young mistress, Jacob Brooks led her into Washington City. Her dream was shattered however, when Brooks unexpectedly sold her and her children to slave trader, James H. Burch.

Not long afterward, Eliza’s children were taken away from her, and were separated and sold to different slave traders. She never saw them again, and spent the rest of her days wailing, crying, and mourning the loss of her children.

Did Eliza abandon her lifelong dream of living her life in liberty after she lost her children? If yes, how was that abandonment apparent? If no, how could you tell? Did it appear that Eliza was willing to give up liberty as long as she could spend the rest of her days with her children? If yes, how was her willingness to give up her liberty apparent? If no, how could you tell? What contributed more to Eliza giving up on life: Giving up on her dream of liberty? Or losing her children? List and explain the reason(s) to support your choice.

(see the answer keys)

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