View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The speaker of the poem "Heart of Harlem" describes Harlem as "the kid you hope will grow up" (73) what?

2. What is the main metaphor running through the narrative of the poem "Mother to Son"?

3. What adjective is used to describe the place to which the Ku Klux Klan members take the speaker of the poem entitled "Ku Klux"?

4. How old were the two boys to whom the poem "The Bitter River" is dedicated?

5. How much money does the subject of the poem "Brass Spittoons" make per day?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is irony used within the poem entitled "Ballad of the Fortune Teller"?

2. What is the main literary device Hughes uses within the poem entitled "Joy"?

3. In what way is the theme of racially-motivated brutality present within the poem entitled "The Bitter River"?

4. In what way are sensory details used within the poem entitled "Harlem Night Song"?

5. What types of sensory details are featured within the poem entitled "Graduation," and for what purpose are these details included?

6. To what element does Hughes compare the object of a drum in the poem entitled "Drum"?

7. In what way is the theme of peace depicted in the poem called "Death of an Old Seaman"?

8. With what countries does the speaker of the poem "Good Morning Revolution" ally himself?

9. How is the theme of family bonds depicted within the poem entitled "Mother to Son"?

10. In what way is the theme of isolation depicted within the poem entitled "Little Old Letter"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a critical essay about the collection Vintage Hughes while using the critical power theory lens of feminist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the collection’s treatment of gender roles, the objectification of women, female empowerment, misogyny's role within society, or any other issues related to feminist theory that can be found in the collection.

Essay Topic 2

What is the collection's message concerning the link between hope and progress?

Essay Topic 3

Write a critical essay about the collection Vintage Hughes while using the critical power theory lens of Marxist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the novel's treatment of issues such as socioeconomic status, hierarchies, wealth, class, or any other issues related to Marxist theory that can be found in the collection.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 944 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample