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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 is Elijah's symbolic last name?

2. What term does Elijah's mother use for exaggeration in story telling in chapter 2?

3. What weapon does Madame Sabbar use in her act in chapter 8?

4. What excuse does Elijah's mother make for the bad jokes Mr. Segee makes?

5. What does Elijah think smoking has done to Samuel's body as he watches him undress in chapter 9?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Frederick Douglass?

2. What does Elijah use as bait to catch his fish?

3. What does Elijah imagine as he catches horseflies in the stable?

4. What is meant by the expression familiarity breeds contempt?

5. Why does Elijah feel as though the entire settlement of Buxton believes him to be fragile?

6. Who convinces Elijah to sneak out and go to the carnival? For what reasons?

7. What does Mr. Travis teach besides general education? Why does this bother Elijah?

8. What does Mr. Leroy show Elijah in chapter 7? What is the significance about these things?

9. To whom did the preacher try to sell Elijah? For what purpose?

10. What do Cooter and Elijah think Mr. Travis means by familiarity breeds contempt in chapter 6?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the preacher to the white slave holder who informs Mrs. Holton of her husband's death. In this comparison list the cruelties each has committed and how they compare to one another, how they impact the people of Buxton and others, and the ways in which they are different. Discuss as well reasons why the author might have felt the need to offers these two representations of such cruelties.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following themes in an essay, using quotes to support your conclusions:

1) Slavery

2) Freedom

3) Family

4) Compassion

Essay Topic 3

Who is Mrs. Holton? What sets her apart from the others in Buxton? Who works for Mrs. Holton? Why does he say he does not mind working for Mrs. Holton even though he is doing similar work to what he did as a slave? For what is Mrs. Holton saving her money? Why does she eventually give this money to someone else? How does this act show the compassion among the former slaves in contrast to the cruelty shown by white slave holders?

(see the answer keys)

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