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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. Where does Mary suggest she, Jan and Bigger go to eat?

2. Who is the owner of the pool hall?

3. What terrorizes the family in the opening of the novel?

4. Why is Bigger afraid of being caught in Mary's bedroom?

5. The story is set in what decade?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Bigger seem to take an instant dislike to Mary Dalton?

2. After Bigger realized Mary was dead, why didn't he even consider just telling the truth?

3. How does Bigger feel about his family?

4. Why do the Dalton's make Bigger feel so uncomfortable?

5. What does it mean about Bigger "Feeling his blackness," even more after Mary Dalton and Jan Erlone's attempts at being friendly?

6. Why does Bigger get so angry and violent with Gus when he says he'll go along with the robbery?

7. Explain the game, "White," that Bigger and his friends played.

8. What happened when Mary's body didn't fit into the furnace?

9. What did he find outside near the car on the night of Mary's death, and what did he do with it?

10. How does Bigger really feel about holding up Blum's Delicatessen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on the way the author, Richard Wright wrote this story, demonstrates both sides of the "nature versus nurture" theory. This is particularly strong when Max testifies to the court about Bigger's life. In the essay describe various parts of the story and how they reinforce both aspects of the theory.

Essay Topic 2

At the very end of the story Max is upset when Bigger comes to the conclusion that it must have been good that he killed. In an essay explain Bigger's reasoning and how he came to that conclusion. Also explain what Max is trying to make Bigger understand after he comes to this conclusion. Why might the two men have different views on this subject?

Essay Topic 3

Fear, Flight and Fate Themes:

Write an essay about the way each of these themes were demonstrated in the story. Did any of them intertwine? If so, when/how?

(see the answer keys)

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