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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. Mr. William Sessions becomes a good friend to both Flannery and ______________.

2. How old was Flannery when she moved to her mother's birthplace in Milledgeville, Georgia?

3. How much is the advance Flannery may need to repay if she leaves Harcourt Brace?

4. In what city does Flannery say it is difficult to raise children?

5. Why does Flannery not use paint brushes to paint?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who are some of the people to whom Flannery writes during this section?

2. What is Flannery's lifestyle after she leaves Yaddo?

3. In the same letter to Cecil Dawkins, how does Flannery distinguish between the beliefs of Southerners and Liberals?

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

5. What writing advice does Flannery give to Cecil Dawkins?

6. What does Flannery write about the Ku Klux Klan and racism in a letter in this section?

7. What points are mentioned about loneliness in the writing lifestyle?

8. What is the range of criticism and praise for Flannery's work when she releases WISE BLOOD?

9. What is the purpose of the Editorial Note?

10. What is revealed about Flannery's lifestyle in this section?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Select three people to whom Flannery wrote letters and write a brief character sketch for each. Be sure to include emotional states, physical characteristics, and their connections to Flannery.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the significance of the book's title. What does the editor mean by "The Habit of Being?" Suggest three alternate titles for this book with supporting text for each one.

Essay Topic 3

Flannery O'Connor is famous for her use of grotesque characters in her fiction. From what you know about O'Connor from reading her letters, what would make her create such hideous creatures? What was her motive for bringing the unsavory to life? Did she get a perverse pleasure out of shocking people? Explain.

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This section contains 857 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample