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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "The Site of Memory," Morrison says that slave narratives had two purposes: one was to record the life of an individual human being, and the other was what?
(a) To rebut narratives by plantation owners.
(b) To advance the cause of abolition.
(c) To contribute to the historical record.
(d) To condemn their former masters.

2. In "Unspeakable Things Unspoken," Morrison says that arguments against the inclusion of African American writings in the canon follow a sequence that ends with what belief?
(a) African American literature is inferior.
(b) African American literature can be superior, but only by meeting the standards of the Western canon.
(c) African American literature is a rich raw material but it needs refinement by a Western or European hand.
(d) African American literature does not exist.

3. In "Unspeakable Things Unspoken," Morrison introduces Rogin's commentary on Moby Dick for what purpose?
(a) To highlight the importance of Black scholarship.
(b) As an example of how a canonical piece can be enriched by reading for the Black presence.
(c) So that she can rebut Rogin's reading of Moby Dick.
(d) As part of her explication of the timeline of Western literature.

4. In "The Site of Memory," Morrison remarks on the absence of what in slave narratives?
(a) Details of everyday life on the plantations.
(b) Sophisticated use of language.
(c) Depictions of the narrator's interior life.
(d) Historical accuracy.

5. In "Faulkner and Women," what effect does Morrison say Faulkner has had on her writing?
(a) He provided an example of how to manipulate language.
(b) She uses symbolism in a similar way.
(c) Faulkner was the inspiration for Song of Solomon.
(d) None.

6. In "The Writer Before the Page," Morrison compares a successful text to what?
(a) A guidebook.
(b) A shattered mirror.
(c) A map.
(d) A historical narrative.

7. In "Gertrude Stein and the Difference She Makes," Morrison calls the "merging of forms" one of the key aspects of what literary movement?
(a) Modernism.
(b) The Harlem Renaissance.
(c) Romanticism.
(d) Postmodernism.

8. In "Goodbye to All That," Morrison uses examples of literary partings between Black and white women to demonstrate what?
(a) White writers are not able to convincingly portray Black women.
(b) Over time, the Black women in these pairings are portrayed as more fully realized human beings.
(c) Not much progress has been made in literary depictions of race relations.
(d) Male writers consistently miss what is most important in relationships between women.

9. In "God's Language," Morrison uses the word "ruminating" to describe what?
(a) The prayers of her childhood friend.
(b) Her admiration for Black women.
(c) The kind of paradise revealed in her books.
(d) Her contemplation of images.

10. In "The Source of Self-Regard," Morrison recounts being asked how to teach one of her books when what was true?
(a) When students struggle to understand her language.
(b) When parents oppose the reading of her book.
(c) When there were no CliffsNotes.
(d) When the teacher is white.

11. In "Rememory," what does Morrison say causes her to rely on memory rather than history?
(a) History is dull and lifeless.
(b) History is oriented toward the "male gaze."
(c) History is a biased record.
(d) History isn't relevant to the topics she writes about.

12. In "The Source of Self-Regard," which two of her works does Morrison chiefly discuss?
(a) Beloved and Jazz.
(b) Song of Solomon and Beloved.
(c) Sula and Song of Solomon.
(d) Jazz and Sula.

13. Morrison's novel "Paradise" is set where?
(a) In New York during the Jazz Age.
(b) In Jerusalem.
(c) In an unnamed kingdom.
(d) In an all-Black town.

14. In "God's Language," what does Morrison say is the place of religion in African American culture?
(a) Its influence has weakened significantly.
(b) It's a powerful example of the merging of African culture with European culture.
(c) It is central to the culture.
(d) It historically marginalized Black people.

15. In "Faulkner and Women," whom does Morrison say she imagines when as a reader when she is writing?
(a) Literary critics.
(b) Everyone.
(c) Herself.
(d) African Americans.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Tribute to Romare Bearden," Morrison says that there was once a false division of art into what two categories?

2. What does the title "Academic Whispers" refer to?

3. In "Invisible Ink," what word does Morrison object to when it is applied to text?

4. In "The Trouble with Paradise," what does Morrison call "a realm that is no realm at all"?

5. In "Chinua Achebe," Morrison says that she learned what from Achebe?

(see the answer keys)

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