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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 does Sue hope that Booker is not?

2. What does Deacon Smith blame Taylor for?

3. Who does Sarah think her husband will kill?

4. Who does Deacon Smith not want to associate with?

5. What does Sue tell the Sheriff to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Sue used to believe in?

2. What does Johnny say he believes in in this chapter?

3. How does Sarah know Tom?

4. Why does Silas enter the room in a good mood in this chapter?

5. Describe the confrontation between Silas and the white men in Chapter 16.

6. What does Brother Bond say has happened to the Communists?

7. What do the white men do to Taylor while he lies in the car?

8. What conflict does Sue have in Chapter 25?

9. Describe the confrontation between Sue and the sheriff in Chapter 23.

10. What is Johnny-Boy doing in Chapter 21?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the whites' oppression of black people.

1) In what way could it be said that it was to the whites' benefit that they keep the black people down?

2) How much of the oppression was pure racism and how much was it due to fear? What did the white man fear?

3) In what way could it be said the equality between races has benefited society?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss differences between the novel and short story formats. What are the main elements of a novel? What are the main elements of an short story? What can Wright not express in a short story that he can in a novel? How does Wright use these limitations to his advantage?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 755 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample