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

2. What does Morrison describe as the third feature of a non-American?

3. What is the name of the book Morrison opens with in Chapter 3?

4. In Hemingway's work, who represents an outlaw of sexuality?

5. According to Morrison, whose work is free of agenda and sensitivity?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe To Have and Have Not.

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

4. From Morrison's point of view, how do writers see whiteness?

5. How is Hemingway's work distant from African Americans?

6. What is the significance of nurses in Hemingway's work?

7. How does Huckleberry Finn critique class and race?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

According to Morrison, what do most studies of racism focus on? What does Morrison wish they would examine? Why? Do you agree with her? Identify and give examples of the terms racial hierarchy, racial exclusion, racial vulnerability, and racial availability.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 704 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample