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. Morrison says that Hemingway's work is more artless and unselfconscious than which writer?

2. When Catherine colors her hair, how does her husband respond?

3. Who does Morrison consider to be the most important early American writer in regard to the concept of Africanism in literature?

4. Africanism acquiring a metaphysical necessity is not the same as losing its _______?

5. Which of the following does Morrison claim literature concerns?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Morrison describe the Africanist persona?

2. What does William Carlos Williams's Adam describe?

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

4. According to Morrison, what does Poe's work show?

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

6. How does Huckleberry Finn critique class and race?

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

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

9. According to Morrison, when is mankind bereft?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

According to Morrison, what are literary whiteness and literary blackness? What are the consequences of literary whiteness and blackness? How were literary whiteness and blackness created? How does Morrison avoid these two concepts?

Essay Topic 2

In Morrison's Playing in the Dark, she discusses the dichotomies that black people are encouraged to fit into. Black people in literature are seen as markers for the benevolent and wicked, spiritual and voluptuous, sinful and enticing, and pure and restrained. Discuss an example of each of these dichotomies. Then explain why it is harmful for black people to be pushed into these roles constantly in literature.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze Morrison's comments about Willa Cather's novel Sapphira and the Slave Girl. What does Morrison have to say about the novel? Why does she say it would be meaningless without Africanist characters and the pedestal of racial degradation? Is this true?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 710 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample