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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Part 3, The Shadow and the Act, Section 1.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Ellison say slaves had in place of freedom?
(a) Dementia, mental illness, emptiness.
(b) Early death, disease, drunkenness.
(c) Blues, spirituals, jazz.
(d) Suffering, despair, darkness.

2. How does Ellison define the "understanding of art?"
(a) Created by the whims of the culture at the time.
(b) Limited to a very few elite patrons.
(c) It is not to be understood, only felt.
(d) Depending upon one's willingness to extend one's humanity.

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

4. Why are slaves able to express themselves in art?
(a) They were given artistic education by slave owners.
(b) Art was seen as harmless by slave owners.
(c) Entertainment was enforced by white culture.
(d) They came from African cultures where art was highly functional.

5. Why does Ellison choose to write "Invisible Man" in a non-naturalistic way?
(a) To capture the fluidity and diversity of America.
(b) To be released from expectations.
(c) To be the first Negro writer to write science-fiction.
(d) To bring in supernatural elements.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Ellison describe his boyhood experience in Oklahoma?

2. What kind of bird does Ellison say Parker is?

3. Why does Ellison's family live in a middle class white neighborhood in Oklahoma City?

4. What does Huckleberry Finn recognize about the Negro character, Jim?

5. Does Ellison have "Invisible Man" completely thought out prior to writing it?

(see the answer key)

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