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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 does the omnipresence of the tom-tom drumming tell us about Emperor Jones' state of mind?

2. How does Jeff's appearance affect Jones' flight?

3. What do the dark figures who Emperor Jones sees in the forest know?

4. What does Emperor Jones throw into the bushes?

5. What color is Jones' uniform?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why was Emperor Jones foolish to fire his gun at the formless fears?

2. Before he sees Jeff, Emperor Jones surveys himself and assesses his plight. How does he feel about his situation?

3. Contrast Emperor Jones' status in the first scene with his status at the end of the sixth forest scene.

4. Describe the apparition Emperor Jones sees in the sixth forest scene.

5. How does Emperor Jones' appearance change in the third forest scene?

6. Describe the apparition Emperor Jones sees in the fourth forest scene.

7. Describe the structure at the center of the stage as the sixth forest scene opens.

8. Describe Emperor Jones' state of mind when the fourth forest scene opens.

9. What effect do the formless fears have on Emperor Jones?

10. How does the tom-tom drumming change during the course of the fourth forest scene?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Emperor Jones is almost offered up as a sacrifice to the crocodile. What else is sacrificed in the play? Describe three sacrifices. What is given up? What does the sacrificer hope to obtain in return?

Essay Topic 2

Are the natives any better off now that they have killed Emperor Jones? Is there any evidence that they might not be?

Essay Topic 3

Henry Smithers is the only white man in the play, and the witch doctor and Lem and the old woman in the first scene are the only natives with speaking roles. Compare and contrast the roles of the white and black characters. How are they the same? How are they different? What difference does skin color make in this play? What can Smithers do that the natives cannot, and vice versa? Are these characters presented as individuals, or as typifying their respective races?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 754 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample