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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 city did the narrator move to in 1941?

2. What does the narrator say he felt a crazy impulse to do?

3. What did Himes' mother encourage her sons to do so they wouldn't grow flat?

4. What does Mrs. Harrison think it is important to keep moving forward?

5. What company did Himes work at as a reader?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Alice startle both the police and Jones when the police stop them for speeding?

2. How does Alice react to what Jones tells her about his confrontation with Madge?

3. What does Jones feel like when he leaves Alice's house?

4. What racial problems does Jones say he encounters on the way to work?

5. How does Jones prepare to kill the white boy?

6. What does Jones observe in the Rest Room restaurant?

7. How does Mrs. Harrison think the black should deal with the white people?

8. How does Jones act at the party?

9. What does Himes say is the new variety of Uncle Toming?

10. What problems does Jones have with Leighton?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following and discuss how it affects the tone of the book and helps to express character and theme.

1. Setting

2. Point of view

3. Structure

4. Language

Essay Topic 2

In what way is Jones not entirely innocent of the accusations directed at him at the end of the novel? How will Jones cope in the army?

Essay Topic 3

How was Himes brought up and how was his upbringing different to many other African American writers during that time? How did Himes' upbringing affect his writings?

(see the answer keys)

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