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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. What is the title of this section?

2. What is the name for the corrected manuscripts that Flannery returned to her publisher?

3. What is the title of Flannery's second novel?

4. Flannery's knowledge of theology is rather extensive within the scope of the ___________ religion.

5. Which author does Flannery encourage Alfred Corn to read?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Flannery share with "A" about seeing her novel in print?

2. Which are the main topics Flannery consistently addresses in her letters?

3. What fear about her book does Flannery share in a letter in this section?

4. How does Flannery say she reacted when seeing the scope of the changes on her manuscript?

5. How does Flannery integrate formal and regional writing in her letters?

6. What is the nature of the book on which Flannery plans to focus this year?

7. What information does Flannery share about the god, Thor, in one of her letters to John Hawkes?

8. What does Flannery write about conversion to her friend, "A?"

9. What is Sally Fitzgerald's perspective on how Flannery dealt with her illness?

10. How is Flannery's health as the year 1963 comes to a close?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sadness takes on an almost human persona in these letters. Why did O'Connor's letters have a hint of sadness? What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

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

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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