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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 causes the mob to go home?

2. What does the soldier want back from Mann?

3. What religion is the man who lends Wright his library card?

4. Why do the boys make up words?

5. What kind of songs do the boys sing?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Mann die?

2. What subjects can Wright not discuss with his white employees in Memphis?

3. What job do the soldiers give Mann at the beginning of this chapter?

4. What happens to Mann when he gets to town?

5. Describe the confrontation between the boys and the couple in Chapter 5.

6. How do Big Boy's parent react when Big Boy tells them he has shot a white man?

7. What does Bob say is the situation in town?

8. How does Mann help out at the hospital?

9. How do the boys give the made up word "quall" meaning?

10. What does Mann think about when he raises his ax to kill the family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Look at the structure of the book.

1) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the book's ideas?

2) Examine the way Wright uses other people in the story to express his ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Examine the relationship between Communism and Christianity.

1) In what way is Communism the opposite of Christianity?

2) Why does Wright show Communism as a forward move for black people?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the values of early 20th century America

1) How did the whites view blacks in the early 20th century?

2) What significant changes do you think occurred during this period that changed the way whites viewed blacks?

3) Does today's society share any values with early 20th century America?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 780 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample