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. Flannery compares her work to which psychiatrist?

2. Where did Flannery attend a school for writers after college graduation?

3. What fowl dish does Flannery's mother cook in this section?

4. At what did Flannery say she failed during this section?

5. Who is one of the newest connections with whom Flannery exchanges letters in this section?

Short Essay Questions

1. What information about writing fundamentals does Flannery share in the first letters in this section?

2. What practical advice does Flannery give to Cecil about rejection slips and taking cough medicine?

3. What angst does Flannery experience regarding a new editor and the reimbursement of an advance?

4. When and where was Flannery born and where did she live as a child?

5. What do Flannery's letters always seem to be a blend of?

6. What event occurs to validate Flannery's Celtic roots?

7. Who are some of Flannery's earliest contacts?

8. Where did Flannery go after graduating college in 1945?

9. What is the nature of the illness from which Flannery suffers?

10. What topics seem to run consistently through Flannery's letters?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Prejudice and discrimination against Negroes is a common thread in O'Connor's stories. Given what you know about Flannery, what do you think is her personal opinion on racism? Why would she choose this topic to include in her stories? Is it because it is very much a part of her everyday life in mid-20th century rural Georgia? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Flannery O'Connor was no stranger to disappointment and rejection. From what you know of O'Connor's life and personality through these letters, what were her biggest letdowns? How did she manage through them? How did her coping skills evidence themselves in many aspects of her life? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

A thread of isolation is an important one in Flannery's letters. How was Flannery isolated as a child? How is a writer's life one of solitude and isolation? How is Flannery's personal life also very isolated? Does she choose some of the distancing she experiences or is isolation inherent in a writer's complete life? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 752 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample