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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. Who wrote in his notebook: "If I had not known you, I would not have found you"?

2. For a writer of fiction, everything has its testing point in what body part?

3. Freedom is of no use without what?

4. What is the nickname for the South?

5. What does O'Connor say one should do if they want topics?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does O'Connor write powerfully, especially about God?

2. How does O'Connor respond to the idea that there is a lack of good Catholic writing in America?

3. What story does O'Connor tell at the beginning of "Catholic Novelists and Their Readers"?

4. What does O'Connor say about being specific in her writing?

5. Why does O'Connor say the Protestant South is a good place for Catholic writers to write?

6. How does O'Connor respond to those who say that Catholics cannot be artists?

7. What does O'Connor say about absolutes in fiction, particularly religious fiction?

8. What problem does O'Connor say Catholic writers face?

9. Why might a Catholic writer have to include more violence in his work than he is comfortable with?

10. What does O'Connor say about "The Foundling" written by Cardinal Spellman?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

Explore the use of Mary Ann as a representation for grotesque-style literature. How does the story of Mary Ann help O'Connor to gain new perspective on the topic of the grotesque? How does she start to think differently about the way people see "good" in things? Why does she say that it is easier to see evil than it is to see good? How does this relate to Mary Ann? How does it relate to the grotesque?

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This section contains 846 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample