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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In her "Sarah Lawrence Commencement Address," Morrison says that when you hate you become what?
(a) An addict.
(b) A victim.
(c) A monster.
(d) A slave.

2. In her "Sarah Lawrence Commencement Address," Morrison defines "dreaming" as what?
(a) A meditative state that improves the creative capacity of the Self.
(b) Deliberate imagining that creates intimacy with the Other.
(c) An impractical luxury we cannot afford in modern times.
(d) Wasted time engaged in wishful thinking.

3. In the story that opens "The Nobel Lecture in Literature," where does the old woman say the answer to the children's question is?
(a) She doesn't actually answer their question.
(b) In their hearts.
(c) In their hands.
(d) In her eyes.

4. In "The Habit of Art," Morrison tells the anecdote about Antigone in Haiti to illustrate what point?
(a) Ancient Greek works are still relevant today.
(b) Acting in a play is therapeutic.
(c) Dictators try to crush artistic expression.
(d) Art has real-world power.

5. What does Morrison say is a key reason for Western projections onto Africa?
(a) The persecution of indigenous Africans.
(b) Africa's poverty.
(c) Missionaries' quest to Christianize Africa.
(d) Western ignorance about Africa.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "The Slavebody and the Blackbody," when Morrison suggests that writing about slavery cuts away at the scar tissue the blackbody uses to hide the slavebody, what technique is she using?

2. What does Morrison say is at its greatest height since the time of the slave trade?

3. In "Women, Race, and Memory," Morrison relates an anecdote about which historical figure?

4. In "Cinderella's Stepsisters," Morrison's central claim is that women should not do what?

5. In "Black Matter(s)," Morrison says that a key "absence" in writing about racism is the omission of its impact on whom?

Short Essay Questions

1. In “The Foreigner’s Home,” what point is Morrison making with her discussion of The Radiance of the King?

2. In “The Nobel Lecture in Literature," Morrison explains why oppressive language is a problem: what effects does she claim it has?

3. In “Racism and Fascism,” what does Morrison say are the characteristics of fascism?

4. In “Moral Inhabitants," Morrison opens with some U.S. Census statistics. What are they and why does she include them?

5. In “The Individual Artist," what does Morrison say is the unique value of the National Endowment for the Arts?

6. In “Black Matter(s)," what main points does Morrison make about the alleged race-neutrality of American history?

7. In “Literature and Public Life," what does Morrison blame television for, and what does she propose as a solution?

8. In “War Against Error," what does Morrison propose as a new "curriculum," and what does she hope it will accomplish?

9. In “The Dead of September 11,” Morrison alludes to a famous speech. What speech does she allude to and what is the purpose of this allusion?

10. In “The Future of Time: Literature and Diminished Expectations," why does Morrison say it is important for us to turn our attention to the future?

(see the answer keys)

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