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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Part 1, The Seer and the Seen, Section 5.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What folk tradition does Ellison believe the black face figure grows out of?
(a) Europe.
(b) Africa.
(c) West Indies.
(d) America.

2. Why does Ellison choose to analyze William Falkner?
(a) Falkner is a close personal friend of Ellison.
(b) Falkner is a great artist and could not be left out of the discussion.
(c) Falkner writes about Negro life with mixed motives but also with great success.
(d) Falkner is very critical of Ellison's novel.

3. How does Ellison start writing?
(a) Ellison is commissioned by the New York City Opera to write a libretto.
(b) Richard Wright asks him to review a novel for Wright's magazine.
(c) His mother asks him to write the story of her life.
(d) Ellison fails to get into the jazz band he wants so he writes about it.

4. Where might Crane have gotten information about the Civil War?
(a) Intensive scholarly research.
(b) His brother.
(c) Manuscripts and letters.
(d) His own experience.

5. How does Ellison describe the philosopher Kierkegaard in the "Stephen Crane.." essay?
(a) Philosopher king who wrecked the castle.
(b) The keeper of Sophocles flame.
(c) Pinnacle of the romantic poets of the 1950s.
(d) Household god for many contemporary novelists.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Ellison choose to analyze Ernest Hemingway?

2. Other white cultures have black face type entertainment, but what is different about American black face?

3. As a child what is Wright unable to distinguish between?

4. What is dangerous and different about Wright's attitude?

5. What does Huckleberry Finn recognize about the Negro character, Jim?

(see the answer key)

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