Print
Word
PDF
|
| Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. Who painted the mural that is displayed above Minton's bandstand?
2. What do the three sections of "Invisible Man" represent?
3. What is the "Act" Ellison refers to in the title of both the essay and the book?
4. What two types of music is Ellison torn between as a child?
5. Who are the two primary managers of Minton's?
Short Essay Questions
1. Who is Mahalia Jackson?
2. What does Ellison tell us about the matriarch, Mrs. Jackson, in "The Way It Is."
3. What does Ellison say is the invisible man's discovery?
4. Who is LeRoi Jones?
5. Where is "Minton's Playhouse" located?
6. Who is Teddy Hill?
7. What captures the attention of many critics about "Blues People."
8. In the Paris Review (Spring 1955) Ellison was interviewed about his work as a writer. What does he say his first piece of professional writing was?
9. What does Ellison believe is the primary American theme in both life and literature?
10. What does Ellison believe Jackson's greatest gift is?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Race relations in America have long been a central focus of our culture. In the introduction Ellison prepares the reader to enter this discussion with him. What kind of invitation does he present? What is the emotional tone and feeling of the introduction? What does Ellison reveal about his own perspective on race? Why is it one of the themes of this book of his writing?
Essay Topic 2
"The Way It Is" is the earliest example of Ellison's writing which appears in "Shadow and Act." In what ways is it different from the other essays? Do you see the beginnings of Ellison's philosophy and understanding it? If no dates were show, do you think it would have been clear that this was an early work? Why or why not?
Essay Topic 3
Overall Ellison praises LeRoi Jones book "Blues People." However, there are elements of Jones' analysis of the blues which are not up to Ellison's high standards. What are the major criticisms he makes of Jones? How does he support his argument against the conclusions Jones comes to?
|
This section contains 736 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |
|
