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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 type of work did Mr. Eldret have Solomon handle for him?

2. How did Tibeats feel when he told Solomon that he had sold him to Edwin Epps?

3. In characterizing Judge Turner, how was he like the other planters in Bayou Bœuf?

4. The approach toward Solomon by two individuals on the Epps Plantation signaled which of the following?

5. What did the fact that Epps bought a large plantation that the slaves had actually earned for him reveal about him?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 15 of the story, what were some of the everyday things that Solomon and the other slaves did not miss at Christmastime?

2. What type of situations involved long waiting times that Solomon had to endure in Chapter 20 of the book?

3. Why did Solomon feels more like a real human being while working for Judge Turner in Chapter 14 of the book?

4. Why was Lew Cheney not liked by some of the slaves in Bayou Bœuf in Chapter 17 of the book?

5. In Chapter 11 of the book, what did Solomon appreciate about the time that he spent at the Ford Plantation following his trek through the Great Pacoudrie Swamp?

6. In Chapter 13 of the story, what was expected of the slaves who worked the cotton fields for Epps?

7. In Chapter 15 of the story, what type of festivities did the slaves in Bayou Bœuf enjoy at Christmastime?

8. What could cause trouble for the slaves weighing the cotton that they had picked at the plantation run by Epps in Chapter 13 of the book?

9. In Chapter 13 of the story, how did Epps show little concern if any when Solomon fell ill?

10. Why was Samuel Bass so well-liked in and around Bayou Bœuf in Chapter 19 of the book?

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

As Author Northrup told his story, he introduced plantation owners and their wives. First, there was William Ford, and his wife, Mistress Ford. Then there was Edwin Epps and his wife, Mistress Epps.

Compare and contrast the demeanor and behavior of Mistress Ford and Mistress Epps. Was it possible that the demeanor and behavior of their respective husbands toward the slaves had anything to do with the ladies' demeanor and behavior toward the slaves as well?

Discuss the interaction between Solomon and Mistress Ford, as well as Mistress Epps and Patsey. Was there a similarity or difference in the manner that they interacted with one another that perhaps influenced by the manner in which their respective husbands treated those particular slaves? If yes, explain. If no, why not?

Essay Topic 3

Solomon said that he understood why a religious man like William Ford could be religious and yet own slaves at the same time. He stated that the environment that Mr. Ford had been raised in, had led him to believe that owning another man was normal and acceptable.

Taking into consideration the way that William Ford operated -- he owned slaves, but gave them Bibles, explain why either his practice of religion or his practice of owning slaves appeared to be more important to him. Be sure to include reasons in support for the selection that you make.

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