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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. Which two characters go to Chicago first?

2. Where does Richard wait in line in this chapter?

3. What is Shorty willing to do for money?

4. What character working in the hospital basement scares Richard?

5. What is the name of the magazine H. L. Mencken edits?

Short Essay Questions

1. What problems does Wright find in New York City?

2. What does Richard decide at the end of the book?

3. Why does Mrs. Moss end up disgusting Richard?

4. What problems does Richard face as publicity agent for the Federal Negro Theater?

5. Why does Richard want to read H.L Mencken?

6. How do the white employers at the optical factory arrange a boxing match between Richard and Harrison?

7. Why does Richard find Chicago so startling?

8. Why don't Southern people like it when blacks move to Northern cities?

9. Who was Marcus Garvey?

10. What happens when Richard joins the May Day parade?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the differences between the Jim Crow system and slavery.

1) What were the differences between the Jim Crow system and slavery?

2) In what way does Wright present the Jim Crow system as hypocritical and no better than slavery?

Essay Topic 2

Examine black masculinity.

1) In what ways did the whites oppress black masculinity?

2) How did the white man's oppression of black masculinity affect black men?

3) How have black men reacted to the oppression of their masculinity?

Essay Topic 3

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

(see the answer keys)

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