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

Short Answer Questions

1. Whose help does Emperor Jones ask for in the fourth forest scene?

2. What does the sixth forest scene tell us about Emperor Jones' wanderings?

3. Who does Emperor Jones stand in for in the fourth forest scene?

4. The fact that Emperor Jones is killed by a silver bullet made from money is a form of what?

5. Where does Emperor Jones go at the end of the fourth forest scene?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Citing specific instances from the text, describe three literary devices O'Neill uses in Emperor Jones. These might include foreshadowing, characterization, symbolism, dialect, metaphor, etc. How does the literary device appear in the play? How does it enhance the plot, building the play toward a crisis and then resolving that crisis?

Essay Topic 2

How has the situation of American blacks changed since 1929, when this play was written? Have they overcome the challenges Emperor Jones faces, or represents himself as having faced? Has the ambiguity of the play's ending been resolved by multiculturalism? Cite instances from recent history as well as instances from the script.

Essay Topic 3

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?

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This section contains 328 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample