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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section 5: Interlude--Black Matter(s), including the essays “Unspeakable Things Unspoken: The Afro-American Presence in American Literature” through “Hard, True, and Lasting”.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "Unspeakable Things Unspoken," Morrison says that she sees a reflection of African-American cultural traditions in what form of literature?
(a) Epic poetry.
(b) Early European novels.
(c) Oral narratives.
(d) Greek tragedy.

2. In her "Sarah Lawrence Commencement Address," Morrison defines "dreaming" as what?
(a) Deliberate imagining that creates intimacy with the Other.
(b) A meditative state that improves the creative capacity of the Self.
(c) Wasted time engaged in wishful thinking.
(d) An impractical luxury we cannot afford in modern times.

3. In "Academic Whispers," who does Morrison say should be asked to speak about racism?
(a) Victims of racism.
(b) Racists.
(c) Historians.
(d) Writers.

4. Why is "panoply" a clever piece of diction as used in "Unspeakable Things Unspoken"?
(a) It has a secondary meaning that has to do with arms and armor.
(b) It is another pun, echoing the essay's opening.
(c) It is part of the alliteration that creates rhythm in the passage.
(d) It has negative connotations that support the irony in the essay's tone.

5. In "Unspeakable Things Unspoken," Morrison says that what is different about the discussion of including African-American literature in the canon is that unlike earlier arguments over expanding the canon, this one does what?
(a) Responds to shifting tastes in the reading public.
(b) Arouses much more violent passions in the defenders of the status quo.
(c) Calls into question the authenticity of American literature as a category within the canon.
(d) Undermines the existence of the canon itself.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "The Future of Time," what does Morrison say it seems like "the future" means to people today?

2. In "The Individual Artist," what does Morrison find interesting about the feud between literary critics from different schools of criticism?

3. "Noblesse oblige" is a philosophy that urged the nobility to do what?

4. Morrison claims that after WWII, the language used to discuss war became more what?

5. In "Race Matters," what word does Morrison call an unsatisfying and shallow ending for Beloved?

(see the answer key)

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