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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. Emperor Jones sees a group of figures in Act 1, Scene 4. What happens when the leader of that group turns his back to Emperor Jones?

2. What does Jeff say when Emperor Jones speaks to him?

3. How does Emperor Jones return to the forest at the end of the second forest scene?

4. Where does the third forest scene begin?

5. What appears to Emperor Jones in the first scene in the forest?

Short Essay Questions

1. What irony does Smithers point out in the final scene?

2. What does the figure in the sixth forest scene's apparition communicate to Emperor Jones?

3. What relationship binds Emperor Jones to the figures in the vision he sees in the fifth forest scene?

4. Where is the native woman going in the first scene?

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

6. How have the natives prepared to kill Emperor Jones?

7. What is the cue for the formless fears to appear?

8. What does Emperor Jones see in the fifth forest scene?

9. Describe Emperor Jones' appearance in the second forest scene.

10. Describe the setting when the second scene begins.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

How does the action of the play affect you as a viewer? Are you sympathetic to Emperor Jones' situation or does he seem like a villain? Do you want him to escape, or do you want him to be caught and killed? How does the play manipulate your sympathies and expectations? Do you feel relieved at the conclusion? Do you feel that justice has been done?

Essay Topic 3

The witch doctor dances in front of Emperor Jones and he makes it clear that Jones is a force of evil and he should be sacrificed. How is evil defined in the play? Are there different definitions? Does one definition prevail over the others? Do you think that the author agrees with any one particular character's ideas of evil?

(see the answer keys)

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