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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. Where might Crane have gotten information about the Civil War?
(a) His own experience.
(b) His brother.
(c) Intensive scholarly research.
(d) Manuscripts and letters.

2. What does Ellison believe writing is?
(a) Mindless activity.
(b) Ethical instrument.
(c) A way to criticize others.
(d) Channeling of higher beings.

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

4. According to Ellison what does the term "the grays" mean?
(a) Negro term for white people.
(b) Slang word for feeling bored.
(c) Negro term for nightfall.
(d) American melting pot.

5. Why does Oklahoma hold some freedom and equality for Negroes at the time Ellison lived there?
(a) It has no tradition of slavery.
(b) There are almost no Negroes in Oklahoma.
(c) It is fully integrated and equality was legislated.
(d) Oklahoma is founded on Mormon principles which forbade prejudice.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Ellison say the greatest difficulty for the Negro writer is?

2. What is minstrel show black face?

3. For Ellison who is the greatest artist the south has ever produced?

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

5. What does Mark Twain do with the character of Jim that breaks through the black face minstrel tradition?

(see the answer key)

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