Go Tell it on the Mountain

James Baldwin

Get this SparkNote to go!

Study Questions and Essay Topics

Study Questions

Characterize John's relationship with Gabriel.


Florence's mother taught her the right way to pray. Florence, Gabriel, and Elizabeth each have extended "Prayers" in Part Two. Have they learned how to pray?


Compare John's feelings about white people to those of Gabriel and those of Richard.


Suggested Essay Topics

What are some of the main parallels to the Old and New Testaments to be found in the novel? How do they enhance one's understanding of the story and its characters?

How does Baldwin integrate Biblical language and the lyrics of traditional black spirituals into his text? What is the effect of this technique?

How would you describe the book? As a commentary on religious conversion? As an analysis of a father-son conflict? Or as an indictment of a racist society? Give your reasons for characterizing the novel in this way.

Readers' Notes allow users to add their own analysis and insights to our SparkNotes—and to discuss those ideas with one another. Have a novel take or think we left something out? Add a Readers' Note!

More Help

Buy the ebook of this SparkNote on BN.com

Easy to view on your iPod, phone, or ereader.

EVEN MORE HELP! ↓

Take a Study Break

SparkLife

Star Trek gets SEXY

Chris Pine and Zoe Saldana heat up the red carpet!

SparkLife

Are you afraid of relationships?

Auntie SparkNotes can help!

SparkLife

Wanna get JLaw's gorgeous glow?

Click here for simple, sexy makeup tricks!

SparkLife

Sexy starlet style

See every single look from the Met Gala!

SparkLife

Who'd be on your zombie-apocalypse crew?

We already dib'sed Genghis Khan.

Geek out!

The MindHut

Geeky Actresses: Then and Now

Before the fame!

The MindHut

9 Scientific Inaccuracies in Iron Man 3

Click to see what they got wrong.

The MindHut

Top 10 Predictions Sci-Fi Got WRONG

So wrong, they're WRONG.

The MindHut

The 15 Most Awesome Robots, Ever

These Robots Rock!

The MindHut

If You Like Game of Thrones...

...Then you'll LOVE these books!

The Book

Cover image

Order Go Tell It on the Mountain at BN.com

All the words, printed on paper. Classic!

Cover image

Read What You Love, Anywhere You Like

Get Our FREE NOOK Reading Apps