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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which of O'Connor's works does she use to show examples of hidden themes and symbols?

2. How many sections does the story "Summer Dust" have?

3. What does O'Connor think every writer would like to think of himself as?

4. What does O'Connor refer to as a "complete dramatic action"?

5. What award did Percy Walker win?

Short Essay Questions

1. What observations does O'Connor make about the student manuscripts she read?

2. How does O'Connor feel about Southern writing being labeled as "grotesque"?

3. Why did a photographer visit O'Connor when she was a young girl?

4. What does O'Connor mean when she says a writer must find his location in order to do his best work?

5. How does having lost the Civil War make Southerners better writers, according to O'Connor?

6. How did the peacock react when a telephone repairman tried to get him to strut?

7. What does O'Connor say about the Manicheans in "The Nature and Aim of Fiction"?

8. Why does O'Connor think some people pretend to be unaffected by the peacocks?

9. Why does O'Connor advise that if an author is called a Southern writer he is best to rid himself of the title as soon as possible?

10. What does O'Connor say about those who have the gift for writing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the benefits O'Connor says come from being a Georgia writer. What limitations might be established by calling oneself a Georgia writer? What do you think O'Connor means when she says the limitations are a gateway to reality? How does regionalism relate to reality? What does she say about writers who have a sense of community?

Essay Topic 2

Explore the challenges a Catholic writer might face. What problems do Catholic writers face, especially when writing for a secular audience? How might the set beliefs of Catholics affect their vision when creating fiction? What does O'Connor say to these claims? How might these beliefs make a Catholic fiction writer better?

Essay Topic 3

Explore O'Connor's view of the short story. How does she say a short story is just like a novel? What does she say a short story requires? What are many short stories missing? Why do you think she holds the short story in such high esteem? What can it accomplish that a novel cannot?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 776 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample