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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. What book discusses certain kinds of readings that seem inextricable from certain experiences of writing and knowledge?

2. According to Morrison, what do reading and writing require?

3. What does Morrison's work require her to consider?

4. Which of the following best describes Marie Cardinal?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Morrison believe studies of racism focus on?

2. What does Morrison say about Africanism worldwide?

3. What is the book Playing in the Dark based on?

4. Until recently, what did Morrison assume about all readers of American fiction?

5. How does Morrison describe the world that we live in today, and what effect does it have on her as a writer?

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

7. What type of language does Morrison struggle with?

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

9. Describe Morrison's statement that the subject of the dream is the dreamer.

10. What are Morrison's intentions in studying Africanism?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why did Morrison decide to read The Words to Say It? What effect did the book have on Morrison? What questions does Morrison have for Marie Cardinal and why are these significant?

Essay Topic 2

How does early America distinguish itself by pressing toward a future of freedom? What does this mean? How does this movement help Americans escape oppression? How does romance help to evade history?

Essay Topic 3

Morrison started a file to document instances of black people igniting moments of discovery in literature not written by them. Why is this significant? Why did Morrison begin doing this? Is this a positive or negative thing for Morrison to do? Why? What effect did doing this have on Morrison?

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