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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. Audre Lorde points out the flaw in thinking that another group freedom of ___________ is to jeopardize one's own freedoms.

2. Women are not to ignore the power of the erotic in the service of ________, when this power can be psychically milked from them.

3. Who greets Audre Lorde at the airport when she travels to Tashket, a city which reminds her of Ghana?

4. ____________ can create an illusion of protection from those who might wish one harm, according to Audre Lorde.

5. What is NOT one of the forms of human blindness which Audre Lorde seeks to define in this section?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Audre Lorde define the idea of women-identified women, according to her speech?

2. What happens to injustices when they are left silent, according to Audre Lorde's speech in this section?

3. What is the complaint that Helen tells Audre Lorde about the Russian working class, although Lorde disagrees?

4. What happens to hopes and to dreams when they are put into language in poetry, according to Audre Lorde?

5. Where did Audre Lorde give the speech "The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action"?

6. What is the state of Uzbekistan's official position, with which Audre Lorde credits the area for its tolerance?

7. To what is this section of the book responding to? Who is Audre Lorde sending this letter in response to?

8. What does Audre Lorde say that Mary Daly used the poem on genital mutilation to do within her book?

9. What does Audre Lorde suggest that Mary Daly has completely dismissed in her book when she reviews it?

10. How does Audre Lorde define the idea of erotic and what it means to be erotic in the context of this chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lorde says that one oppression does not justify the other, even though she feels society is saying this.

Part 1: How does oppression impact the way a society works?

Part 2: Do you think that oppression is rampant in society today?

Part 3: Why do you think that oppression is a concern for Lorde during the time of her writing?

Essay Topic 2

Lorde begins to see that black men believe that black women are problematic when they speak up for their rights and desires.

Part 1: Do you think that Lorde responded to Staples' article in a productive manner?

Part 2: Why do you think that black women are being seen as a threat in the world, according to Lorde's observations?

Part 3: How do you think that power could be balanced between men and women? Is it possible?

Essay Topic 3

Lorde defines poetry as something which is vital and necessary to the human condition.

Part 1: Do you agree that poetry is vital and essential to the human condition?

Part 2: Why do you think Lorde feels women will benefit most from poetry?

Part 3: What are your initial reactions to reading and to writing poetry?

(see the answer keys)

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