View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What happens after Jan Erlone sees Bigger on the street and offers to help him, then invites him out for coffee to talk about the situation?
(a) Bigger tells Jan Erlone he doesn't need his help.
(b) Bigger pulls a gun on Jan Erlone.
(c) Bigger runs away.
(d) Jan Erlone runs away when he sees Bigger has a knife.

2. What things does Mrs. Dalton question Bigger about when she comes to his room?
(a) About where the car was parked, the trunk and Jan Erlone.
(b) About Jan Erlone's involvement with the communists.
(c) About Mary leaving her new clothing behind.
(d) About where he took Mary the night before.

3. How does Bigger feel committing murder has changed his life?
(a) He feels powerful and ready to kill again.
(b) He is afraid he will spend the rest of his life on the run.
(c) He feels it has opened the door to opportunity.
(d) It has given meaning to his life.

4. What does Bigger say when Bessie asks if he murdered Mary Dalton?
(a) He admits that he killed Mary and threatens Bessie, too.
(b) He denies killing Mary, but admits he stole money from her.
(c) He laughs and says Mary killed herself by jumping in the river and he just watched.
(d) He admits that he killed Mary and tells Bessie he'll tell everyone she helped him.

5. What does Bigger contemplate while standing on the rooftop?
(a) Shooting himself.
(b) Trying to jump to the next building.
(c) Jumping to his death.
(d) Trying to look for a fire escape.

Short Answer Questions

1. In what ways does Bigger act to give the impression he thinks Mary is asleep upstairs in her bedroom?

2. In book two when Bigger finally falls asleep after hearing Peggy and Mrs. Dalton talking about Mary, what does he recall in his dream?

3. How is building Bigger chose as the lookout point for the money drop described in the story.

4. What goes through Bigger's mind when he hears the music from the church?

5. What happens when Bigger first awakens the morning after the murder?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the one problem Bigger feels he has to do before he will be okay?

2. What deterred the Daltons from being excessively concerned when they found Mary wasn't in the house the morning after she was murdered?

3. How did Bigger feel about killing Bessie?

4. Although Bigger was very quick with his deceit and able to think on his feet, so to speak, in what way was he becoming his own worst enemy?

5. When Bigger awoke in the morning after Mary's death, what happened when he remembered what he had done the night before?

6. The morning after Mary's killing, as Bigger rode the street car on his way back to the Dalton house, he spent a lot of time reflecting on the plight of black people. Explain what Bigger thought would be a solution to their fear and shame.

7. Why did Bigger decide to try to blame Jan and the Communist Party for the kidnapping?

8. Bigger was very much interested in reading about himself in the newspapers. Of what significance was this?

9. When did Bigger realize how quickly news was going to spread that he had killed Mary?

10. In Book two, what does Bigger do at the drug store?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,122 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample