View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. To Audre Lorde, the power of the erotic has the capacity to remind Lorde of the human capacity for __________ in the world.

2. Audre Lorde defines the erotic as both spiritual and ___________ and as a source of power in the world.

3. A women interviews Audre Lorde because the writer is doing a story about ___________.

4. Expression through poetry leads to new ideas that are more easily formed on the ___________ level of poems.

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some of the regrets that Audre Lorde sees in her own life as she admits in her speech?

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

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

4. What is the significant event which occurred just a little while after the letter of this section was written?

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

6. What does Audre Lorde say that life experience gives to her in relation to her expression?

7. What happens to old ideas when they are presented within the context of poetry, according to Audre Lorde?

8. What leads to better decision making, in Audre Lorde's opinion, which becomes a source of power?

9. What happened at a New York state college, according to Audre Lorde, when talking about the barriers to women?

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

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 believes that relationships between women are often seen as being dangerous to patriarchal society.

Part 1: How might relationships between women be dangerous to society as a whole?

Part 2: Do you think that relationships between any group could be dangerous to society as a whole?

Part 3: Why do you think that patriarchal society would be hurt by women who had banded together?

Essay Topic 3

Lorde challenges the way that Daly presents her arguments about women and radical feminism.

Part 1: Why do you think that Lorde seeks to criticize Daly rather than to celebrate the strengths of the book?

Part 2: Do you think the Lorde is being unnecessarily critical of Daly's work?

Part 3: How do you think Lorde could have opened up a dialogue with Daly, rather than to simply write a letter of challenge?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 704 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample