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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 object is pawned within the poem entitled "Could Be"?

2. On what side does the speaker of "Midnight Raffle" say his bread is buttered by the end of the poem?

3. How much money does the speaker of the poem "Midnight Raffle" invest in the raffle?

4. What two objects does the personification of war use within the poem entitled "War"?

5. The speaker of the poem "Juke Box Love Song" states that he will "make a crown" (95) using what materials?

Short Essay Questions

1. To whom is the poem entitled "Late Last Night" addressed?

2. In what way could the poem "To Artina" be said to display a feminist message?

3. The poem entitled "Trumpet Player" uses what kind of metaphor to describe the qualities of music?

4. Discuss two examples of personification within the poem entitled "Georgia Dusk."

5. Discuss the appearance of the theme of redemption within the poem entitled "Life is Fine."

6. What is the main message of the poem entitled "Without Benefit of Declaration"?

7. Characterize the two speakers within the poem entitled "Question and Answer."

8. For what purpose does Hughes use allusion within the poem entitled "Projection"?

9. What state is being described within the poem that contains as its first three lines the words, "Oh, what sorrow!/Oh, what pity!/Oh, what pain" (115)?

10. In what way is repetition utilized within the poem entitled "Song for Billie Holiday"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the collection entitled Vintage Hughes from an Existential perspective. What elements of life does it suggest hold the most meaning and why?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Hughes's messages about guilt and responsibility within the collection Vintage Hughes. Focus especially on events such as Cora’s inability to save Jessie from her hateful and reputation-obsessed mother.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the instances of irony within the collection entitled Vintage Hughes and analyze Hughes's purpose for including each instance you discuss.

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