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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Emperor Jones do when he comes on stage in the fourth forest scene?

2. How does the tone of the fifth forest scene change?

3. How have the natives triumphed by the end of the play?

4. Which religion predominates in Emperor Jones' final vision?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Emperor Jones takes advantage of the natives' superstition. Cite three instances of superstition in the play and describe the belief behind each one. Is there another way of believing in things in this play? Does superstition reveal its limitations as a method of belief? Does it reveal its strength? Is one kind of superstition more powerful than another when it comes to Emperor Jones' feelings, or his power over the natives, or Jones' guilt?

Essay Topic 2

What is the moral of Emperor Jones? Does the play teach a moral? If you think it does, describe how that lesson is presented. If you think that it does not, what does it teach us, if not a moral?

Essay Topic 3

How was Emperor Jones received in America when it premiered in 1929? What does it tell us about America in 1929 that it got the responses it did? What does it tell us about how blacks were treated in America at the time?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 315 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample