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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. How does the narrator get out of playing along in Sybil's rape fantasy?

2. What do the yams symbolize?

3. How does the narrator portray himself at the end of Chapter 22?

4. Why was Brother Tarp on a chain gang?

5. How does the narrator plan to overcome the white men of the Brotherhood?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Jack become angry with the man who asks the narrator to sing a "spiritual"?

2. Identify several mistakes that the narrator makes in his first assigned speech in Harlem.

3. Why is the narrator's work on the "woman question" cut short?

4. What does Brother Jack really want the narrator to avoid doing?

5. What epiphany has the narrator experienced regarding his race?

6. What is the primary problem with the instructions given to the narrator to gather more members?

7. How does Emma's conversation create a sense of foreboding?

8. How do we know at this point that the lobotomy has not been completely successful in changing the narrator's personality?

9. Explain why the "woman question" is typical of the Brotherhood's approach to issues.

10. Why does Brother Jack defend the narrator at this point?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Early in the novel, the narrator endures a non-surgical pre-frontal lobotomy that is supposed to erase his memories, make him a more pliable worker, and prevent him from bringing charges against the factory. He does change after the experience, but not exactly in the way usually expected of a lobotomy. Discuss the changes that begin taking place. What changes are permanent? What changes seem to occur gradually? Do they make the narrator a better man?

Essay Topic 2

The narrator's grandfather tries to explain how he himself had failed the black people. What does the narrator initially not understand about the concept of "yessing" them to death? How does he eventually understand and adopt the idea? What conclusion does he finally draw about appearing to agree while actually plotting against someone?

Essay Topic 3

Early in the novel, the graduating black boys are deliberately used as cruel sport for the white men at a club. Norton is at the club with all the other white men. Norton does not care about the black boys any more than anyone else does. Therefore, what is his purpose at the college? Explain the things that Mr. Norton and Brother Jack have in common.

(see the answer keys)

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