- 1. Black Boy by Richard Wright is a powerful autobiographical account that vividly narrates the author's experiences growing up as an African American in the Deep South during the early 20th century. The book explores the themes of racial discrimination, poverty, and the struggle for identity, as Wright recounts his tumultuous childhood and adolescence in a world marked by oppression and violence. Through his poignant storytelling, he highlights the harsh realities faced by black individuals, including the brutality of racism and the relentless quest for dignity and self-expression. The narrative is not only a depiction of Wright's personal journey but also a broader commentary on the systemic injustices of society, as he grapples with his familial relationships, the influence of the Jim Crow laws, and his eventual move to Chicago in search of a better life. The prose is intensely emotional and reflective, revealing the triumphs and tribulations that shaped Wright's worldview and fueled his passion for writing, making Black Boy a seminal work in American literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
What is the protagonist's name?
A) Bigger Thomas
B) James Baldwin
C) Frederick Douglass
D) Richard Wright
- 2. What traumatic event happens to Richard's family early in the book?
A) His father is lynched.
B) They are forced onto a chain gang.
C) They are sold into slavery.
D) Their house burns down.
- 3. How does Richard get the money to eventually move North?
A) He wins a scholarship.
B) He wins money gambling.
C) His grandmother gives him an inheritance.
D) He saves money from various jobs and steals.
- 4. What is the main theme of 'Black Boy'?
A) The struggle for individual identity against racism
B) A celebration of Southern culture
C) A comedy about family life
D) A mystery set in the Great Depression
- 5. What literary genre is 'Black Boy' primarily classified as?
A) Autobiography
B) Historical fiction
C) Science fiction
D) Satire
- 6. What is the religion of Richard's grandmother?
A) Catholic
B) Methodist
C) Seventh-day Adventist
D) Baptist
- 7. What is a major source of conflict between Richard and his relatives?
A) His support of segregation
B) His desire to become a farmer
C) His refusal to go to school
D) His rejection of their religious beliefs
- 8. How does Richard feel about the white world as a child?
A) He is confused and fearful of its arbitrary violence.
B) He is completely unaware of it.
C) He feels superior to white people.
D) He is eager to join it and make white friends.
- 9. What does Richard use to get a library card in Memphis?
A) His school identification
B) His birth certificate
C) He steals books instead.
D) A forged note from a white coworker
- 10. What author has a profound impact on Richard's thinking?
A) Mark Twain
B) William Shakespeare
C) H.L. Mencken
D) Ernest Hemingway
- 11. What is Richard's final destination at the end of the book?
A) Chicago
B) Boston
C) Detroit
D) New York
- 12. How does young Richard accidentally set his family's house on fire?
A) By experimenting with chemicals
B) By starting a cooking fire
C) By knocking over a kerosene lamp
D) By playing with matches near the curtains
- 13. Richard's father abandons the family for what?
A) The war
B) Another woman
C) Religious reasons
D) A job up North
- 14. What major organization does Richard become involved with in Chicago?
A) The Black Panthers
B) The Communist Party
C) The UNIA
D) The NAACP
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