Part I
1. What central theme does The History Lesson explore?
A. The decline of plantation society
B. The moral conflict between education and law
C. The role of music in the ante-bellum south
D. The economic impact of Reconstruction
2. Why does Frank risk punishment to teach Hattie Rose to read and write?
A. He hopes she will teach others
B. He wants to prove he can fool the master
C. He believes education is a human right and a path to freedom
D. He wants to surprise Lewis
3. Which of the following best describes Hattie Rose’s transformation in the play?
A. From an obedient servant to a defiant freedom seeker
B. From an uneducated seamstress to a skilled musician
C. From a loyal slave to a resentful worker
D. From a domestic worker to a skilled seamstress
4. Frank’s reference to Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges serves to:
A. Criticize European culture
B. Compare country music to classical music
C. Illustrate the brilliance of African heritage and Black excellence
D. To prove that African descendents can play classical music
5. When Hattie Rose answers, “Education allows me to step outside the confines of slave culture,” she reveals that:
A. She wishes to leave the plantation physically
B. She sees education as mental and spiritual liberation
C. She plans to become a teacher outside of the plantation
D. She believes reading is a form of entertainment
6. What does the “fence” Frank speaks about symbolize?
A. The literal barrier separating the cabins
B. His emotional and social detachment to the enslaved community
C. The legal boundary of the plantation
D. The wall between teacher and student
7. The play’s closing spiritual, “Steal Away,” symbolizes:
A. A call to rebellion and the hope of spiritual and physical freedom
B. A lullaby for enslaved children
C. The death of a loved one
D. A song about going to heaven
8. The relationship between Frank and Hattie Rose challenges:
A. The slave codes and racial hierarchy of the antebellum South
B. The music traditions on the plantation
C. Hattie Rose’s fidelity to Henry
D. The society of plantation owners
9. What does Hattie Rose’s diary represent thematically?
A. A record of daily plantation chores
B. A voice of intellect, identity, and inner freedom
C. The secret love and trust of a forbidden friendship
D. A symbol of material wealth
10. At the end of the play, Frank and Hattie Rose plan to:
A. Confront the overseer
B. Escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad
C. Burn the plantation
D. Stay and fight for better conditions
Part II – Essay Questions
11. How does the theme of education operate as both resistance and redemption in The History Lesson?
12. What role does Lewis play in highlighting the generational struggle for freedom and dignity?
13. How does Hattie Rose’s final monologue about education reveal the playwright’s message about self-worth and empowerment?
Part III – Essay Question
Write a well-organized paragraph (6–8 sentences) responding to one of the prompts below.
A. Analyze how The History Lesson portrays love as both a human right and an act of rebellion.
B. Discuss how the play uses historical realism and emotional intimacy to reveal the injustices of slavery.