View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Who was criticized by a scholar who deemed the term "darky" acceptable?

2. How many lectures is Playing in the Dark based on?

3. Who is the author of the quote from Preludes IV?

4. What is the main theme in Sapphira and the Slave Girl?

5. What does Morrison consider the consequences of?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the term Africanism mean?

2. According to Morrison, what does a black woman represent to literature but not to herself?

3. Which authors does Morrison describe as using black references in their work?

4. Describe the file that Morrison begins to keep.

5. What can happen if we learn about the way Africanism functions in the literary imagination?

6. Describe the dichotomies Morrison presents as being necessary for black people to fulfill.

7. Why doesn't Sapphira and the Slave Girl allow readers to ignore race?

8. What does Morrison say about Africanism worldwide?

9. What is the most significant question that stems from Morrison reading Cardinal's book?

10. What does Morrison hope that studies of racism will begin to examine?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Bernard Bailyn's Voyagers of the West investigate the way European settlers become Americans? What does the character William Dunbar show and represent? What does Morrison think of this work and the character?

Essay Topic 2

Morrison claims that ignoring race in literature is a racist act in itself. Why is this true or untrue? Point out at least two of her arguments and provide support for them and criticize them.

Essay Topic 3

What is the purpose of Morrison writing this book? What message did Morrison want to convey? What type of action did Morrison call for?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 696 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample