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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 does Bigger daydream about during the second movie?

2. What is the title of the first part of the novel?

3. What does Bigger tell his friend Gus he could do if he had the chance?

4. What happens when Bigger puts Mary's body in the trunk?

5. Where does Bigger have a job interview?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why does Bigger panic when Mrs. Dalton enters Mary's room while he is in there?

4. What was the story Bigger planned to tell when he returned in the morning?

5. Why did Bigger help Mary to her room instead of waking her parents and letting them know her drunken condition?

6. Why did Bigger decide to put Mary's body in the trunk?

7. What were Bigger's two final concerns about the burning body?

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

9. Describe Bigger's home.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are places in the story where Bigger demonstrates a keen ability to visualize a situation ahead of time to evaluate the outcomes. Was this an advantage or disadvantage to him in the story? Give examples in the essay.

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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