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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 work features Harry Morgan?

2. In which novel does Morrison discuss a character named Catherine?

3. In the book featuring Henry Morgan, what is stressed?

4. What does the American group that offers itself up as a surrogate represent a meditation on?

5. Where does William Dunbar appear after claiming land?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Morrison, what does American literature represent a commentary of?

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

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

4. What does Morrison try to make it clear that she is not doing?

5. Describe Catherine's desires in The Garden of Eden. What does this point out?

6. Describe the quote Morrison uses from James Snead's book on Faulkner?

7. Describe the unmanageable slips throughout Poe's work.

8. How does Huckleberry Finn critique class and race?

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

10. Why does Morrison deem Poe the most important early American writer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Hemingway portray race in his work? How is Hemingway distant from African-Americans in his work? What does this tell the reader? How does Hemingway show the difference between males and females? How does he relate this to race?

Essay Topic 2

According to Morrison, reading and writing are not very distinct for a writer, and they both require alertness and awareness of the writer's notions of risk and safety. Writers also fight for meaning and responsibility. Describe what Morrison means by this. Do you think she is right? Give an example of what Morrison means.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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