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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 did Hughes's father want him to go to school to study three languages at once?

2. What was Hughes's job on the ship across the ocean?

3. Why did Hughes turn down Alain Locke's request to meet with him?

4. Who did Hughes want to see performing at the Metropolitan Opera House upon his return to New York?

5. How many fraternities did Hughes pledge for?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened to Hughes when he, his mother, and his grandmother went to Mexico? Why did they go there, and when did they return?

2. Who was Jocko? Where did he come from? Where did he live?

3. Who was Edward? How did Hughes meet him?

4. Why did Hughes throw all of his books overboard while traveling to Africa? What did this act symbolize?

5. Where did Hughes find a more permanent job in Paris? What were his initial job duties? What important new perk did this job offer him?

6. What were the three tragedies Hughes described happening in the village before his departure back to the states?

7. What happened when Hughes picked up Jocko from the pet shop in New York? How did he raise the money to get home?

8. What was the ritual on the S.S. Malone when the ship crossed the equator?

9. How did Hughes go about earning money in Mexico? What were his plans for the money he earned there?

10. What was Hughes's life like during his senior year in high school, which was also the end of the war?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hughes met a child, Edward, while in an African port. Hughes said his meetings with Edward inspired his best short story "African Morning." What was Edward's story? Why did Hughes find Edward's situation especially painful? Why did his encounter with Edward inspire a story?

Essay Topic 2

Hughes approached the subject of his relationship with his father over the years of his growing up in poverty. Discuss Langston Hughes's relationship with his father James. In what ways are they similar? How do their differences showcase who Langston Hughes is?

Essay Topic 3

Hughes described in detail a brawl in the Grand Duc involving a woman named Annette. There was a distinct theme and message Hughes was making in his retelling of the story. Discuss the brawl, what it was about, and what it stood for in Hughes's life. Why do you think Hughes did not jump into the brawl to fight?

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