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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. Hopes and __________ are transformed into language through poetry, which then can lead to action.

2. __________ allows injustices to go unheard and fears to remain powerful, according to Audre Lorde in her talk.

3. Audre Lorde wants to point out that one ________________ does not justify another and the other author's method of expressing this was misguided.

4. Black females, according to Audre Lorde, have become a primary target for _________ whose cause is external to the black community.

5. The erotic is a depth of _______________ that women in this society are encouraged to ignore, according to Audre Lorde.

Short Essay Questions

1. To what does Audre Lorde attribute the intense distrust between black women in her society?

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

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

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

5. What are the four forms of human blindness, according to Audre Lorde in this section?

6. What is the difference between pornography and erotic, according to Audre Lorde in this chapter?

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

8. What are the two ways, according to Audre Lorde, in which the erotic can serve a person?

9. What are some of the ills of modern life which Audre Lorde believes poetry can help to cure?

10. What does Staples' article seem to think of black women, according to the way Audre Lorde interprets it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lorde's breast tumor surgery causes her to look more closely at herself and her work.

Part 1: Do you think the medical surgeries cause self-reflection?

Part 2: Why do you think the the breast surgery had an impact on Lorde?

Part 3: How do you think you might change if you were to have a difficult or a dangerous surgery?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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