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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section 6: Part II--God’s Language, including the essays “James Baldwin Eulogy” through “The Writer Before the Page”.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "Black Matter(s)," what aspect of American slavery does Morrison claim makes its impact so long-lasting in American culture?
(a) The breakup of slave families.
(b) The skin color of the slaves.
(c) Laws against teaching slaves to read and write.
(d) The religion of slave-owners.

2. Morrison's discussion of Huckleberry Finn in "Black Matter(s)" is intended as an illustration of what?
(a) American Africanism.
(b) Historical accuracy in fiction.
(c) The shadow of Puritanism in fiction.
(d) Gothic Romanticism.

3. In "The Habit of Art," Morrison praises the artist Toby Lewis for what?
(a) Creating great religious art.
(b) Placing art in public workplaces.
(c) Taking on the perspective of the "other."
(d) Disrupting the status quo with her provocative work.

4. In "The Slavebody and the Blackbody," what does Morrison call the "ghost in the machine"?
(a) The slavebody.
(b) Poverty.
(c) The blackbody.
(d) Racism.

5. Morrison begins "Moral Inhabitants" with a list of what Colonial import and export items?
(a) Bibles and other religious tracts.
(b) Guns.
(c) Slaves.
(d) Indentured servants.

Short Answer Questions

1. In her "Sarah Lawrence Commencement Address," Morrison says that she is willing to talk about typical graduation topics like the future, responsibility, and goodness, but not what?

2. In "Grendel and His Mother," what omission from Beowulf does Morrison say is significant?

3. In "Moral Inhabitants," what is the list of American leaders meant to demonstrate?

4. John Gardner's novel Grendel uses the original story as a source for what?

5. According to Morrison's "Black Matter(s)," what is a key factor in national identity?

(see the answer key)

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