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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. Who will Langston be joining?

2. That spring, where is Langston invited to spend the summer?

3. Who does Langston take with him when he meets the editors of The Crisis?

4. What does Auntie Reed insist that Langston do?

5. What courses does Hughes take?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Langston when he goes to a cafeteria with a white friend?

2. Describe Hughes' family history.

3. How is Langston, again, affected by racism, on his train ride home from Mexico?

4. Describe Lincoln.

5. How is Langston's father's mind changed, regarding his collegiate studies?

6. Describe Langston's experience in Paris.

7. How does Langston become involved in school activities at Central High School?

8. How does Langston act on stage at church? What are the reactions of the congregation and his mother?

9. Why does Langston move to Cleveland?

10. What influences exist in Langston's life at this point?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hughes' family life is unsettled.

Part 1) Describe his family life. Why is it so unsettled?

Part 2) How do his family dynamics affect him?

Part 3) How does the theme of a division between black and white play into this unsettled family?

Essay Topic 2

A theme found in much of Hughes' work is the optimism of humor.

Part 1) How is this a theme?

Part 2) How is humor optimistic? What does this reveal about Hughes?

Part 3) How might this theme draw readers to Hughes' work?

Essay Topic 3

Hughes says he begins writing poetry because "he could not help himself."

Part 1) Why does he not have this attitude early on in life?

Part 2) What causes this change?

Part 3) How does this type of attitude lead him through his life?

(see the answer keys)

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