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

2. What was the reason upon which Solomon based his bellief that Bass had left Marksville quietly?

3. How can it best be said that Solomon described Bass?

4. Which male pair below provided Solomon with sweet type work?

5. What was likely to be Epps' reason for ordering Solomon back to work soon after his illness?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Mr. Eldret show respect for Solomon in Chapter 11 of the book?

2. 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?

3. In Chapter 16 of the book, how did Solomon lead Epps to believe that he was making the slaves work hard in the cotton field?

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

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

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

7. What type of consequences did Epps have to face for chasing the young and beautiful slave, Patsey in Chapter 16 of the book?

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

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

10. In Chapter 19 of the book, how did Solomon and Bass manage to meet secretly with one another to plan how arrangements for restoring Solomon's freedom would be handled?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Led into Washington City by white men who claimed to have their best interest and freedom status in mind, Solomon and Eliza raised questions in anger regarding the true motives of the men who had led them into the clutches of slavery.

What were some of the reasons that Solomon felt that he could trust the white men who had led him into Washington City? Were there any circumstances or early indicators that he should have taken heed not to trust them? If yes, what were those indicators? If no, why not?

What were some of the reasons that Eliza felt that she could trust the white man who had led her into Washington City? Were there any circumstances or early indicators that she should pay attention to and not trust him? Is yes, what were those indicators? If no, why not?

Essay Topic 2

In Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northrup, male slave owners and dealers forced cruel and harsh punishment upon male slaves in direct ways. Punishment however, was not limited to male upon male. Acting discreetly and indirectly, female slave owners also managed to force cruel and harsh punishment upon female slaves.

Choose two women from the book whose lives included events of the type described in the preceding sentence. Who was punished? Who forced punishment upon her? How was her punishment carried out? Why was she punished? Was her punishment reasonable? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

As Twelve Years a Slave came to an end, what in your estimation, ultimately saved Solomon from having to continue his life in slavery? His resourcefulness? His faith and trust in God? Lawyer Henry B. Northrup? His perseverance? Providence? Luck in running into Samuel Bass? Samuel Bass’ friendship? Samuel Bass’ commitment to help him?

From Solomon’s standpoint, it was a combination of two factors mentioned in the preceding paragraph that ultimately saved him from having to be enslaved for life.

Using the list provided above, select the two factors that Solomon credited with restoring his freedom.

Discuss whether either factor that you have selected played a stronger or more dominant role in helping Solomon regain his freedom. If your answer is yes, identify the dominant factor that you have chosen, and explain its role. Be sure to include reasons to support your view.

In the alternative, if you feel that both factors played an equal role in putting freedom back into Solomon’s life, explain why. Be sure to include reasons to support your position.

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