55 pages 1 hour read

Ralph Ellison

King of the Bingo Game

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1944

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Reading Questions & Paired Texts

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Reading Check

1. The smell of what item of food makes it difficult for the protagonist to “contain his hunger”?

2. What did the protagonist see on a woman’s neck after leaving the theater the previous day?

3. What is the jackpot prize, and which numbers must the wheel land on?

4. What profound statement does the narrator make on the stage?

5. What name is the protagonist “reborn” as?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does the protagonist compare the South to the North? What item does he use to make this comparison?

2. Why does the old man chide the protagonist during the film? What does the old man then offer him?

3. What is the protagonist’s motivation for winning bingo? Describe his initial strategy for winning the game.

4. Why does the crowd and the man with the microphone become agitated with the protagonist? How does the protagonist respond?

5. What phrases does the protagonist shout into the audience? Who is called onto the stage, and what do they force the protagonist to do?

Related Titles

By Ralph Ellison

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