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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 has Silas gotten more of in this section?

2. Who does Taylor demand to talk to at the town hall?

3. What does the sheriff say Sue will need to collect her son?

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

5. Where does Taylor say he wants to lead his people?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sarah think about on the hillside?

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

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

4. What conflict does Sue have in Chapter 25?

5. What did Sue used to believe in?

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

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

8. What does Taylor say about his past in Chapter 17?

9. What does Taylor imagine having the strength to do in Chapter 19?

10. How does the sheriff break Johnny's ear drum?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

All the stories in the book are written in the third person. Why do you think Wright chose to write in the third person? How do you think the meaning of the book would change if it were written in the first person?

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 700 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample