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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. How does John characterize the difference between his mother and father?

2. What does John say it is dangerous to drive through the Homewood Avenue district?

3. What can't a prisoner do, no matter what?

4. Who does Jamila say Robby looks like?

5. When did John realize the effect of Garth's death on Robby?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why was Robby expelled from high school in 1968?

2. How does Robby characterize himself as a young man?

3. How are Jamila and Robby related in John's mind?

4. How does John treat the prisoners?

5. How does John characterize the significance of Robby's birthday?

6. How does John characterize the freedom gained by escaping from a situation or place?

7. Describe John's visit with Robby.

8. How does John say he and his family act when they get to the penitentiary?

9. Describe Robby's entrance into drugs and crime.

10. What happened to Robby that he was wanted by the police?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does John define freedom in "Brothers and Keepers", and how does he exercise his freedom? In what ways is he NOT free? How does his lack of freedom compare with his brother's? Is he just a different kind of prisoner? Is he freer because he has stayed clear of the law? Is he free because he has work that supports him? What does freedom reside in?

Essay Topic 2

Write a character sketch of the author based on his style and content. What values does he hold dear? What are his hopes and fears? What kind of person do you think he is? What life experiences has he had? Anchor your sketch in passages in the book.

Essay Topic 3

According to John Wideman, Robby is locked up like an animal. What other metaphors are common to "Brothers and Keepers", and what does the web of metaphorical associations tell us about Wideman and his ideas about Robby's incarceration? Does he treat the idea playfully? Is he deadly serious about it? Does he try to magnify the significance of it through metaphor? Does he try to diminish it or domesticate it?

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