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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 is the white image related to the erasure of, according to Morrison?

2. In the book about Faulkner, what "show their flaws best in written form"?

3. What is the first role that the Africanist character serves as?

4. According to Morrison, what represents a commentary on the transformations of racial difference?

5. Which work features Harry Morgan?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe one major theme Morrison lists being consistent with American literature.

2. What role do black men play in Hemingway's works?

3. Why is the act of ignoring race in literature a racist act?

4. What characteristics does Morrison describe as being the distinguishing features of non-Americans?

5. The common claim that white America has considered many things without reference to the black population includes what concepts?

6. Why does Morrison suggest that Dunbar's finer sensibilities have been dulled?

7. According to Morrison, when is mankind bereft?

8. What does Morrison hope to avert the critical gaze from and to?

9. How does early America distinguish itself by pressing toward a future of freedom?

10. According to Morrison, who responds best to culture and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Morrison describes the world as being genderized, sexualized, and racialized. Explain the effect these characteristics of the world have on Morrison as a writer as well as on people in general. Give three specific examples of how the world is genderized, sexualized, and racialized, one for each characteristic. Explain the consequences of living in a world with these qualities.

Essay Topic 2

Morrison states that she struggles with language that evokes hidden signals of racial superiority and that her vulnerability lies in romanticizing blackness. What does this mean? What does this tell the reader about Morrison and about literature? Give an example of hidden signals of racial superiority and romanticizing a race.

Essay Topic 3

The duties of a persona include exorcism, reification, and mirroring. Identify and describe one example of each term in terms of Africanism presence in literature.

(see the answer keys)

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