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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. How old is Stephen Crane when he dies?

3. What are the three themes of "Shadow and Act" according to the Introduction?

4. For Ellison a primary difference between Twain and Hemingway is what?

5. Why does Ellison choose to analyze Ernest Hemingway?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Ellison consider Stephen Crane to be such a great artist?

2. Ellison originally wanted to be a musician. What changed for him?

3. What does Ellison find so remarkable about Crane?

4. What were some of the catastrophic events which occurred in Wright's life?

5. What does Ellison compare Wright's personal journey of blooming to?

6. What does the second half of the title "Hidden Names and Complex Fate" refer to?

7. As a child Ellison imagined himself as a "Renaissance man." What does that mean?

8. What writers are at issue in the exchange between Irving Howe and Ralph Ellison?

9. Did Richard Wright influence Baldwin or Ellison?

10. How does Ellison leave the rather bitter dialogue with Howe?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the four articles on musicians written for the Saturday Review, Ellison explores the development of each individual artist. What do Mahalia Jackson, Charlie Parker, Charlie Christian and Jimmy Rushing have in common? Why does Ellison choose both nationally famous and locally famous musicians to write about? How are the careers and styles of the four musicians different?

Essay Topic 2

"Brave Words for a Startling Occasion" is Ellison's acceptance speech when he received the American National Book award. Why was it, for Ellison, a startling occasion? What about his speech is brave? What is the overall theme of this speech?

Essay Topic 3

In "Change the Joke and Slip the Yoke" Ellison challenges Stanley Hyman's assertion the "smart man playing dumb" role is primarily Negro. What does Ellison propose is the true case? What examples does he use to argue that this "joke" is much broader than Negro culture? How does this understanding fit with the larger theme in Ellison's work of the relationship between Negro culture and American culture?

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