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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Part 1, The Seer and the Seen, Section 4.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the relationship between Ellison and Stanley Hyman?
(a) Writers who abhor each other's work.
(b) Cousins who grew up together in Oklahoma.
(c) Professors competing over the same university job.
(d) Friends and intellectual sparing partners.

2. What does Mark Twain do with the character of Jim that breaks through the black face minstrel tradition?
(a) Jim is stereotypical and boring.
(b) Jim's very serious and not at all fun.
(c) Jim performs black face without the paint.
(d) He's a complex, dignified and very human person.

3. Where is the essay "Stephen Crane and the Mainstream of American Fiction" published?
(a) It was never published.
(b) As an introduction to "The Red Badge of Courage" 1960 printing.
(c) In the Harvard Review of Literature, 1950.
(d) In the Atlantic Monthly.

4. Why do Crane and his wife move to England?
(a) It was more exotic to Crane than New York.
(b) He was wanted for several crimes.
(c) To escape rumors that she was an ex-madam.
(d) It was more civilized.

5. Where does Ellison grow up?
(a) Oklahoma City.
(b) New Orleans.
(c) Dallas.
(d) New York City.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Ellison describe the philosopher Kierkegaard in the "Stephen Crane.." essay?

2. What is minstrel show black face?

3. How old is Stephen Crane when he dies?

4. What is Ellison's original career direction?

5. Other white cultures have black face type entertainment, but what is different about American black face?

(see the answer key)

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